Simultaneous determinations of plutonium alpha- and beta-activity in liquid effluents and environmental samples

Abstract

Some modifications to a previously published method for the simultaneous determination of plutonium-241 and plutonium alpha-activity are described. The modified procedure incorporates an ion-exchange separation followed by extraction with di(2-ethylhexylfphosphoric acid and liquid scintillation counting. Magnesium hydroxide is used as a carrier for the concentration and transfer of plutonium between the various stages of the method. Interferences from some other radionuclides have been assessed and the lower limits of detection are about 0.24 and 1.7 pCi for alpha-and beta-activity, respectively.Keywords Plutonium a-and /%activity ; ion-exchange separation ; liquid scintillation counting ; efluent analysis ; environmental analysis