Rapid separation method for emergency water and urine samples

Abstract

Significant method improvements were applied to reduce analytical times. As a result, much faster analysis times were achieved, less than 3 hours for determination of 90 Sr and 3-4 hours for actinides. This represents a 25%-33% improvement in analysis times from NRIP 2007 and a ~100% improvement compared to NRIP 2006 report times. Column flow rates were increased by a factor of two, with no significant adverse impact on the method performance. Larger sample aliquots, shorter count times, faster cerium fluoride microprecipitation and streamlined calcium phosphate precipitation were also employed.Based on initial feedback from NIST, the SRS Environmental Bioassay Lab had the most rapid analysis times for actinides and 90 Sr analyses for NRIP 2008 emergency urine samples. High levels of potential matrix interferences may be present in emergency samples and rugged methods are essential. Extremely high levels of 210 Po were found to have an adverse effect on the uranium results for the NRIP-08 urine samples, while uranium results for NRIP-08 water samples were not affected. This problem, which was not observed for NRIP-06 or NRIP -07 urine samples, was resolved by using an enhanced 3 210 Po removal step, which will be described.

Rapid separation method for actinides in emergency air filter samples

“…Finally, 3ml 3M HNO3-0.25M boric acid was added and the samples were evaporated to dryness. The samples 6 were redissolved in 6ml HNO 3 and 6 ml 2M aluminum nitrate to prepare a 3M HNO3-1M aluminum nitrate load solution.…”

“…It should be noted that 210 Po, which can be present in air filter samples, can be removed very effectively using 4M HCl-0.2M HF-0.002M TiCl 3 if high levels of 210 Po are expected. [8] Actinide filters were counted by alpha spectrometry for 30-40 minutes due to the relatively high levels of actinides in these emergency response samples. Longer count times may be used as needed to meet required detection limits.…”

“…A new rapid method for the determination of actinides and radiostrontium in air filter samples has been developed that can be used in emergency response situations. [6]. The NRIP air filter samples were analyzed using a streamlined acid digestion method using followed by a stacked column consisting of TEVA Resin + TRU Resin + Sr Resin.…”

Rapid determination of 237Np and Pu isotopes in water by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry

“…The precipitate was dissolved in 8 ml 6M HNO 3 and 8 ml 2M Al(NO 3 ) 3 directly in the centrifuge tubes. The final load solution contained 16 ml 3M HNO 3 and 1M Al(NO 3 ) 3 . Valence adjustment was performed by adding 0.5 ml 1.5M sulfamic acid, 0.4 ml of 5 mg Fe/ml as ferric nitrate and 1.25 ml 1.5M ascorbic acid with a three minute wait step to reduce plutonium to Pu 3+ .…”

Rapid separation method for actinides in emergency soil samples

“…A new method has been developed in the Savannah River Site Environmental Lab [12]. The NRIP soil samples were analyzed using a rapid sodium hydroxide fusion, followed by precipitation steps including a lanthanum fluoride matrix removal step, followed by a stacked column consisting of Bq ml -1 level were employed to enable yield corrections.…”