Ultratrace and isotope ratios analyses of some radionuclides by ICP-MS

Abstract

Extensive work is under way using High Resolution-ICP-MS for

Rapid fingerprinting of 239Pu and 240Pu in environmental samples with high U levels using on-line ion chromatography coupled with high-sensitivity quadrupole ICP-MS detection

“…The precision for 240 Pu/ 239 Pu depends on the level of Pu in the sample. Our results for the isotopic ratios 240 Pu/ 239 Pu are in good agreement with previously published data for IAEA-375, 22 while for SRM-4354 our results are in fair agreement with the results published by Helal et al 24…”

Ultra-trace determination of 90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239Pu, and 240Pu by triple quadruple collision/reaction cell-ICP-MS/MS: Establishing a baseline for global fallout in Qatar soil and sediments

“…Al-Hamarneh et al (2003) measured the activity concentration of 40 K, 134 Cs, 137 Cs, 90 Sr, 241 Am, 238 Pu and 239þ240 Pu in surface and core soil samples collected from different regions of Jordan. Helal et al (2004) reported that the 90 Sr/ 86 Sr and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu isotope ratios measured in soil samples collected near nuclear facilities confirm that the source of 90 Sr and Pu is global fallout. Al-Meer et al (2013) reported a baseline for 90 Sr in Qatari soils.…”

Analytical Methods for the Determination of 90Sr and 239,240Pu in Environmental Samples

“…Operating under cold plasma can greatly reduce the ionization efficiency of Zr by HR-ICP–MS [ 33 ]. The isotope ratio of 90 Sr/ 86 Sr in soil samples near the nuclear facility was 6.02 × 10 −9 , basically reaching the sensitivity of radiochemical method for the determination of 90 Sr [ 20 ].…”

“…HR-ICP–MS is also mostly used when measuring the concentration of 239,240 Pu in the environment. Helal et al [ 20 ] measured the isotope ratio of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu of 0.17 in the soil near nuclear facilities. Stefan et al [ 92 ] used the ultrasonic atomization method to measure the Pu isotope activity and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu isotope ratio in environmental samples, with the measurement accuracy (RSD) of the ratio of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu at about 2%.…”

“…The complex matrix of environmental samples with the diverse and unknown existing forms of radionuclides and the trace or ultra-trace concentration level makes accurate measurement quite difficult. Researchers have tried and improved many measurement methods [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. The purpose of this article is to review the separation methods of 90 Sr, 239 Pu, and 240 Pu that have been released in the environment, and discuss commonly used radiometric and non-radiometric measurement methods.…”