Automatic sequential separation with an anion-exchange column for ultra-trace analysis of Pu, U, Th, Pb, and lanthanides in environmental samples

Abstract

Sequential separation of 12 pg Pu and 50 ng of U, Pu, Th, Pb, and lanthanides in a calibration solution, with [93 % yield for the objective elements, was achieved within 6.3 h by an automatic system using a small anionexchange column. The elements of interest in tree ring samples extracted from an 88-year-old pine tree were separated using this system, and 0.09 ng g -1 U was detected in the dry sample by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This separation technique is useful for ultra-trace quantitative and isotopic analyses of elements in small environmental samples.

Anion-exchange separation of americium and the lanthanides using a single column

“…All the remaining Am was eluted in the subsequent fractions Th-1 (89.3%) and Th-2 (8.9%). In previous works [9][10][11] , alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals were completely eluted in the first mixed-media equivalent to the M-1 and M-2 fractions, and then the lanthanides were completely eluted with the first two fractions of the second eluent, which corresponds to the first 2 fractions (total 7.5 CV), Ln-1 and Ln-2 in this work. These results imply that Am can be simply and sequentially separated from lanthanides and also alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals, by only elution with this mixed acid.…”

“…The standard deviation of the recovery yields was calculated from variation of the ion intensity in 5 repeats of ICP-MS measurement. *3: The elements which >50% of the total amount was eluted in the fraction of interest in the previous work 11 .…”

“…In some cases, several tandem columns and/or systematic separation procedures are required to remove other matrix elements 8 . The sequential anion-exchange separation of U, Pu, Th, Pb, and the lanthanides was successfully achieved by using a suitable combination of acetic acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and the hydrofluoric acid for selective elution of each element in our previous works [9][10][11] . In the current work, elution behavior of Am in this separation system was investigated by separating an 243 Am spike solution.…”