Abstract
For the analysis of the isotopic composition of environmental samples, including transuranic materials there are many methods that exist. This paper describes the development of a high throughput method, which involves dissolving a soil into an aqueous matrix, producing a homogenous mixture, and separating radionuclides to enable the identification of specific isotopes. A standard method was modified via changes in oxidation, chemical exchange, decomposition, or rearrangements to form constituents that are more soluble in acidic aqueous solutions. To accomplish this, a molten-salt fusion, dissolution in dilutes nitric or hydrochloric acids, with subsequent separation using ion exchange, direct deposition, and counting by alpha-spectrometry was used. This method is ideal for silicate samples, but can be modified to accommodate more complex soil samples.
© Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, Germany
