Rapid method for plutonium-241 determination in soil samples

Abstract

A simple and rapid procedure for the determination of plutonium isotopes in the environment is presented. The procedure combines alpha spectrometry, solvent extraction and liquid scintillation measurements to ensure that both alpha- and beta-emitting isotopes are determined. Of five tested extractants, bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid was found to be the best choice. The procedure was applied to soil samples contaminated with Chernobyl fallout.

Determination of plutonium isotopes in environmental samples with triisooctylamine and alpha spectrometry

“…The measurements are performed by: high resolution alpha spectrometry after electrodeposition of the purified Pu on stainless steel disks [6,7] or co-precipitation with rare-earth fluorides [1,3,13] such as NdF 3 , CeF 3 ; liquid scintillation spectrometry [18,19] and mass spectrometry [2,8,[10][11][12]. Mass spectrometry has been gathering momentum in the recent years for measurements of longlived alpha and beta radionuclides, but alpha spectrometry is still the preferred instrument for measurements of alpha radionuclides due to the relatively lower price and maintenance costs of the equipment.…”