Rapid Determination of Environmental Plutonium in Large Water Samples by Means of Manganese Dioxide Co-Precipitation and Extraction Chromatographic Separation

Abstract

Plutonium activity determinations in environmental water samples are routinely performed in many laboratories. Due to the low plutonium concentrations and the complexity of the plutonium aqueous chemistry, these analysis involve cumbersome preconcentration and separation procedures and long measurement times. We describe a procedure where Mn0 2 (s) is used as scavenger to preconcentrate Pu prior to separation by the transuranium specific extraction chromatographic resin TRU-Resin. The ability of MnO¡"/Mn0 2 (s) to destroy organic matter and oxidise plutonium is combined with the specific behaviour of the TRU-Resin for transuranium elements. The method facilitates a rapid preconcentration and separation of plutonium. With the use of this procedure, the laboratory work on one sample can be performed in one day with minimum attention. TTie overall yields from a 200 litre fresh-or seawater sample to a measurable Pu source are between 70-85%.

Plutonium from Global Fallout Recorded in an Ice Core from the Belukha Glacier, Siberian Altai

“…The less reactive pentavalent (V) species of Pu are considered to be dominant in glacier ice (31) but are not coprecipitated quantitatively by the Ca3(PO4)2 coprecipitation often used for soil extracts. Therefore, preconcentration was achieved by means of MnO2 coprecipitation (32), a procedure also suitable for the pentavalent species. After repetition of the coprecipitation to maximize the yield, the supernatant was set aside for 36 Cl and 137 Cs analyses, and the MnO2 precipitate was dissolved in 7 mL of 65% HNO3, 0.5 mL of 30% H2O2, and 160 µL of 40% HF.…”

Method for Determination of Neptunium in Large-Sized Urine Samples Using Manganese Dioxide Coprecipitation and 242Pu as Yield Tracer

“…Manganese dioxides coprecipitation has been utilized to capture radionuclides (e.g., Ra, Ac, Th, U, Pb, Po) from large volume environmental samples (e.g., seawater), − whereas, to the best of our knowledge, this method has not yet been utilized to handle biological samples. This is probably attributed to the complex matrix composition of urine which might greatly affect the efficiency of manganese dioxide coprecipitation.…”