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Qin N, Zheng J, Guosheng Yang, Tagami K. A comprehensive survey of reference materials for their use in quality assurance for the determination of Np-237 in environmental samples. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 271:107328. [PMID: 37951039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Neptunium-237 (237Np) is one of the most hazardous radionuclides of public concern due to its radiological toxicity, long half-life and high environmental mobility. Standard reference materials (SRMs) with well characterized 237Np activity concentrations are valuable for method development and validation of 237Np determination in environmental samples. In this study, a comprehensive literature survey of 237Np activity concentrations in 25 SRMs was carried out covering the various matrices of sediment, soil, seawater, atmospheric particles, and biota. After data screening, arithmetic mean of the activity concentrations of 237Np in literatures were calculated as statistical values (SVs). Then, accuracies of different instrument analyses and acid digestion methods were evaluated based on the SVs. Finally, by optimizing the sector field ICP-MS analytical method, 237Np activity concentration in JSAC-0471 soil SRM was measured. The application of SVs provides 237Np activity concentration information in more SRMs. Besides SRMs certified by technically validated procedures, SRMs with SVs and the measurement of JASC-0471 provide more options for suitable selection of SRMs for 237Np determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Qin
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 266-8555, Japan; University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 266-8555, Japan.
| | - Guosheng Yang
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 266-8555, Japan
| | - Keiko Tagami
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 266-8555, Japan
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2
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Yang Y, Luo M, Wu Y, Yuan N, He J, Guo H, An Q. Comparison for the simultaneous determination of 237Np and Pu isotopes between TEVA and TK200 resin. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 270:107290. [PMID: 37660455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
A reliable and stable method was developed to accurately analyze neptunium (237Np) and plutonium isotopes in environmental samples using 242Pu or 236Pu as a tracer. Key parameters, including the valence adjustment conditions and the stabilities of Pu and Np in the different resins, were investigated using TK200 and TEVA resin. It was found that Pu and Np could be efficiently extracted simultaneously using TK200 resin under the optimal loading conditions (6-12 M HNO3) with the addition of 0.01-0.12 M NaNO2 for valence adjustment. These isotopes were subsequently stripped out using a solution containing 0.1 M HCl, 0.05 M HF, and 0.01 M NH2OH·HCl. The separation efficiencies of Pu and Np were >93%, and the chemical yield ratio between Np and Pu was maintained steady at an average of 1.00 ± 0.03 (n > 50) under the optimal conditions. The analytical method was validated by analyzing environmental soil samples spiked with known amounts of 239Pu and 237Np standard solutions or certified reference materials. The measured values of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu obtained by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry were consistent with their International Atomic Energy Agency literature values within a 95% confidence interval. These results confirm the reliability and high analytical precision (<6%) of this developed method using Pu as a non-isotopic tracer for monitoring the chemical yield of 237Np. The developed method can also be used for environmental pollutant monitoring and for tracer studies of the 237Np and Pu isotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yang
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Maoyi Luo
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yang Wu
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ni Yuan
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jingjing He
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hongmei Guo
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Quan An
- China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
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3
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Zhang S, Liu Z, Yang G, Zheng J, Pan S, Aono T, Sakaguchi A. Rapid Method To Determine 137Cs, 237Np, and Pu Isotopes in Seawater by SF-ICP-MS. Anal Chem 2023; 95:16892-16901. [PMID: 37906231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Neptunium-237, owing to its long half-life (t1/2 = 2.14 × 106 year) and similar conservatism to 137Cs, has the potential to replace 137Cs for water mass circulation studies on decades and even longer time scales. A new method for the determination of 137Cs, 237Np, and Pu isotopes in seawater samples was proposed to solve the difficulty of 237Np analysis in seawater. The developed method includes the separation technique of ammonium phosphomolybdate (AMP) adsorption for 137Cs and anion exchange chromatography for 237Np and Pu, a measurement technique of gamma spectrometry for 137Cs and SF-ICP-MS for 237Np and Pu isotopes. 242Pu as a pseudo isotope dilution tracer for Np, the negligible chemical fractionation between 237Np and 242Pu of 1.02 ± 0.06 (k = 2) was obtained by implementing sophisticated control of the redox system and chromatographic elution optimization. The analytical results for the International Atomic Energy Agency Certified Reference Materials (IAEA-443) agreed with the reference values, showing chemical yields of 65-88%, U decontamination factor above 106 level, and improved sample throughput (5 days for 12 samples). Meanwhile, the lower method detection limits (MDLs) of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu were 1.3 × 10-3, 0.065, and 0.15 μBq L-1 for 15 L seawater, respectively. Results obtained by the developed method can be used to evaluate the impact on the marine ecological system of the planned marine discharge of Fukushima decontaminated wastewater. Working toward that purpose, we are the first to report the 237Np activity concentration in Pacific Ocean seawater sampled near the station site, and we obtained the value of 0.122-0.154 μBq L-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guosheng Yang
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shaoming Pan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tatsuo Aono
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Radioecology Unit, Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Aya Sakaguchi
- Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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4
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Huang Z, Hou X, Qiao J, Zhao X. Simultaneous determination of femtogram levels of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu in environmental solid samples using extraction chromatography and ICP-MS/MS. Talanta 2023; 265:124798. [PMID: 37348353 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
An analytical method based on triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of femtogram levels of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu in environmental samples. By carefully controlling the valence states of Np and Pu in the entire separation procedure using a simple single extraction chromatographic column (TK200), the consistent behavior of Np and Pu was achieved, allowing for the reliable application of 242Pu as the chemical yield tracer for 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu. A high decontamination factor of 3.2 × 107 for the most critical interfering element, uranium, was achieved in the chemical separation step. The interferences of 238U1H+ and peak tailing of 238U+ during the measurement of plutonium isotopes were effectively eliminated by utilizing 7.5 mL/min He-1.1 mL/min CO2 as reaction gases in the octupole collision/reaction cell and employing sequential quadrupole mode for mass separation in ICP-MS/MS. Specifically, the interference of 238U1H+ was reduced to 10-6 and the peak tailing of 238U+ to 10-10, surpassing the performance of measurement method without reaction gases by 3 orders of magnitude. The developed method enables the accurate determination of femtogram levels of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu in the samples with U/Np and U/Pu atom ratios of up to 1017 and 1012, respectively. The developed method was validated by analyzing standard reference materials and spiked soil samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Huang
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Xi'an AMS Center, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Xi'an AMS Center, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China.
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
| | - Xue Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Xi'an AMS Center, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China; Xi'an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research, Xi'an, 710061, China
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5
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Rozhkova AK, Kuzmenkova NV, Sibirtsev AM, Petrov VG, Shi KL, Hou XL, Kalmykov SN. Simultaneous separation of actinides and technetium from large volumes of natural water for their determination. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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6
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A simple acid digestion using HCl–HNO3−NH4HF2 for rapid SF-ICP-MS determination of 237Np and Pu isotopes in steel and concrete samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07825-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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7
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Geraldo B, de Araujo LG, Taddei MHT, Ferreira MT, Máduar MF, Vicente R, Marumo JT. Radiochemical characterization of spent filter cartridges from the primary circuit of a research reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06864-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Radioanalysis of ultra-low level radionuclides for environmental tracer studies and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06908-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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9
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López-Lora M, Levy I, Chamizo E. Simple and fast method for the analysis of 236U, 237Np, 239Pu and 240Pu from seawater samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Talanta 2019; 200:22-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Huang Z, Ni Y, Wang H, Zheng J, Yamazaki S, Sakaguchi A, Long X, Uchida S. Simultaneous determination of ultra-trace level 237Np and Pu isotopes in soil and sediment samples by SF-ICP-MS with a single column chromatographic separation. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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11
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Popov L. Determination of plutonium isotopes in environmental samples by extraction chromatography with triisooctylamine - polyethylene resin. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 146:48-56. [PMID: 30753984 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Method for determination of plutonium isotopes in various environmental samples is presented. The separation and purification of plutonium is attained by extraction chromatography with triisooctylamine - polyethylene resin in nitric and hydrochloric acid media. Plutonium is measured by alpha-particle spectrometry after electrodeposition on a stainless steel disk. The analytical quality was checked by analyzing reference materials with different matrices from IAEA (Soil-6, IAEA-375, IAEA-384, IAEA-414) and NPL (AL-2009, AL-2010, AL-2011, AL-2013, AB-2014). The major advantages of the method are the low cost of the analysis, high radiochemical yields and high decontamination factors from the matrix elements, natural and man-made radionuclides.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Popov
- Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Safety Department, Radioecological Monitoring, 3321, Kozloduy, Bulgaria.
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12
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Establishing rapid analysis of Pu isotopes in seawater to study the impact of Fukushima nuclear accident in the Northwest Pacific. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1892. [PMID: 29382952 PMCID: PMC5789979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20151-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to assess the impact of the Fukushima derived Pu isotopes on seawater, a new analytical method to rapidly determine Pu isotopes in seawater by SF-ICP-MS including Fe(OH)2 primary co-precipitation, CaF2/LaF3 secondary co-precipitation and TEVA+UTEVA+DGA extraction chromatographic separation was established. High concentration efficiency (~100%) and high U decontamination factor (~107) were achieved. The plutonium chemical recoveries were 74–88% with the mean of 83 ± 5%. The precisions for both 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios and 239+240Pu activity concentrations were less than 5% when 15 L of seawater samples with the typical 239+240Pu activity of the Northwest Pacific were measured. It just needs 12 hours to determine plutonium using this new method. The limit of detection (LOD) for 239Pu and 240Pu were both 0.08 fg/mL, corresponding to 0.01 mBq/m3 for 239Pu and 0.05 mBq/m3 for 240Pu when a 15 L volume of seawater was measured. This method was applied to determine the seawater samples collected 446–1316 km off the FDNPP accident site in the Northwest Pacific in July of 2013. The obtained 239+240Pu activity concentrations of 1.21–2.19 mBq/m3 and the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios of 0.198–0.322 suggested that there was no significant Pu contamination from the accident to the Northwest Pacific.
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13
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A procedure for the sequential determination of radionuclides in soil and sediment samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-017-5621-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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Determination of plutonium isotopes in environmental samples with triisooctylamine and alpha spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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15
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Cao L, Bu W, Zheng J, Pan S, Wang Z, Uchida S. Plutonium determination in seawater by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A review. Talanta 2016; 151:30-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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16
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Present status and perspective of radiochemical analysis of radionuclides in Nordic countries. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4741-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Quinto F, Golser R, Lagos M, Plaschke M, Schäfer T, Steier P, Geckeis H. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels. Anal Chem 2015; 87:5766-73. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Quinto
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics-Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Lagos
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Markus Plaschke
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schäfer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics-Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Horst Geckeis
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
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18
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Matteson BS, Hanson SK, Miller JL, Oldham WJ. Concurrent determination of 237Np and Pu isotopes using ICP-MS: analysis of NIST environmental matrix standard reference materials 4357, 1646a, and 2702. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2015; 142:62-67. [PMID: 25644752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An optimized method was developed to analyze environmental soil and sediment samples for (237)Np, (239)Pu, and (240)Pu by ICP-MS using a (242)Pu isotope dilution standard. The high yield, short time frame required for analysis, and the commercial availability of the (242)Pu tracer are significant advantages of the method. Control experiments designed to assess method uncertainty, including variation in inter-element fractionation that occurs during the purification protocol, suggest that the overall precision for measurements of (237)Np is typically on the order of ± 5%. Measurements of the (237)Np concentration in a Peruvian Soil blank (NIST SRM 4355) spiked with a known concentration of (237)Np tracer confirmed the accuracy of the method, agreeing well with the expected value. The method has been used to determine neptunium and plutonium concentrations in several environmental matrix standard reference materials available from NIST: SRM 4357 (Radioactivity Standard), SRM 1646a (Estuarine Sediment) and SRM 2702 (Inorganics in Marine Sediment).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent S Matteson
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Susan K Hanson
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Miller
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Warren J Oldham
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
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19
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Kim H, Chung KH, Jung Y, Jang M, Kang MJ, Choi GS. A rapid and efficient automated method for the sequential separation of plutonium and radiostrontium in seawater. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3595-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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20
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Qiao J, Shi K, Hou X, Nielsen S, Roos P. Rapid multisample analysis for simultaneous determination of anthropogenic radionuclides in marine environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3935-3942. [PMID: 24617716 DOI: 10.1021/es404584b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An automated multisample processing flow injection (FI) system was developed for simultaneous determination of technetium, neptunium, plutonium, and uranium in large volume (200 L) seawater. Ferrous hydroxide coprecipitation was used for the preliminary sample treatment providing the merit of simultaneous preconcentration of all target radionuclides. Technetium was separated from the actinides via valence control of technetium (as Tc(VII)) in a ferric hydroxide coprecipitation. A novel preseparation protocol between uranium and neptunium/plutonium fractions was developed based on the observation of nearly quantitative dissolution of uranium in 6 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution. Automated extraction (TEVA for technetium and UTEVA for uranium) and anion exchange (AGMP-1 M for plutonium and neptunium) chromatographic separations were performed for further purification of each analyte within the FI system where four samples were processed in parallel. Analytical results indicate that the proposed method is robust and straightforward, providing chemical yields of 50-70% and improved sample throughput (3-4 d/sample). Detection limits were 8 mBq/m(3) (0.013 pg/L), 0.26 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L), 23 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L), 84 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L) and 0.6 mBq/m(3) (0.048 ng/L) for (99)Tc, (237)Np, (239)Pu, (240)Pu and (238)U for 200 L seawater, respectively. The unique feature of multiradionuclide and multisample simultaneous processing vitalizes the developed method as a powerful tool in obtaining reliable data with reduced analytical cost in both radioecology studies and nuclear emergency preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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21
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Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Lachner J, Christl M, Xu Y. Sequential Injection Approach for Simultaneous Determination of Ultratrace Plutonium and Neptunium in Urine with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2013; 85:8826-33. [DOI: 10.1021/ac4020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center
for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center
for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Institute
of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, China
| | - Per Roos
- Center
for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Johannes Lachner
- Laboratory
of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Christl
- Laboratory
of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yihong Xu
- Center
for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- The
Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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Rapid determination of 237Np in soil samples by multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gamma spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013. [PMID: 26224948 PMCID: PMC4514457 DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A radiochemical procedure is developed for the determination of 237Np in soil with multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) and gamma-spectrometry. 239Np (milked from 243Am) was used as an isotopic tracer for chemical yield determination. The neptunium in the soil is separated by thenoyl-trifluoracetone extraction from 1 M HNO3 solution after reducing Np to Np(IV) with ferrous sulfamate, and then purified with Dowex 1 × 2 anion exchange resin. 239Np in the resulting solution is measured with gamma-spectrometry for chemical yield determination while the 237Np is measured with MC-ICP-MS. Measurement results for soil samples are presented together with those for two reference samples. By comparing the determined value with the reference value of the 237Np activity concentration, the feasibility of the procedure was validated.
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Determination of 237Np in environmental and nuclear samples: A review of the analytical method. Appl Radiat Isot 2012; 70:1747-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.02.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2011] [Revised: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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24
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Ketterer ME, Zheng J, Yamada M. Applications of Transuranics as Tracers and Chronometers in the Environment. ADVANCES IN ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10637-8_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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25
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Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Miró M. Rapid isolation of plutonium in environmental solid samples using sequential injection anion exchange chromatography followed by detection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2011; 685:111-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Revised: 10/18/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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26
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Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Miró M. High-Throughput Sequential Injection Method for Simultaneous Determination of Plutonium and Neptunium in Environmental Solids Using Macroporous Anion-Exchange Chromatography, Followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometric Detection. Anal Chem 2010; 83:374-81. [DOI: 10.1021/ac102567b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km. 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km. 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Per Roos
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km. 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Manuel Miró
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa km. 7.5, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
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Qiao J, Hou X, Miró M, Roos P. Determination of plutonium isotopes in waters and environmental solids: A review. Anal Chim Acta 2009; 652:66-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2009.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2008] [Revised: 02/26/2009] [Accepted: 03/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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28
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Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Miró M. Rapid Determination of Plutonium Isotopes in Environmental Samples Using Sequential Injection Extraction Chromatography and Detection by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2009; 81:8185-92. [DOI: 10.1021/ac901395e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, NUK-202, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, NUK-202, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Per Roos
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, NUK-202, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Manuel Miró
- Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, NUK-202, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Analysis of radionuclides using ICP-MS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-4860(07)11009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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31
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Radiochemical determination of 237NP in soil samples contaminated with weapon grade plutonium. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s10582-006-1023-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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32
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Lindahl P, Roos P, Holm E, Dahlgaard H. Studies of Np and Pu in the marine environment of Swedish-Danish waters and the North Atlantic Ocean. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2005; 82:285-301. [PMID: 15885376 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2004] [Revised: 01/14/2005] [Accepted: 01/28/2005] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The long-lived anthropogenic radionuclides (237)Np, (239)Pu and (240)Pu were determined in marine environmental samples (seaweed and seawater) collected from Swedish-Danish waters and the North Atlantic Ocean at various locations on different occasions during the period 1991-2001. The measurements were performed with sector field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and conventional alpha spectrometry. The (237)Np activity concentrations in Fucus vesiculosus and surface seawater from the Swedish west coast and Danish waters ranged from 0.16+/-0.02 to 1.02+/-0.09 mBq kg(-1) (dry weight) and 0.65+/-0.02 to 1.69+/-0.02 mBq m(-3), respectively, depending on the location and sampling year. Most of the (237)Np in these waters is believed to originate from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, with some contribution from global fallout. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atomic ratios in F. vesiculosus samples are reported in this study with an overall average of 0.17+/-0.03. The (237)Np and (239)Pu activity concentrations observed in surface seawater collected in North Atlantic waters ranged from 0.16+/-0.01 to 0.62+/-0.08 mBq m(-3) and from 0.64+/-0.05 to 4.27+/-0.08 mBq m(-3), respectively, and the (237)Np/(239)Pu atomic ratios were a good indicator of conservative behaviour of Np in marine waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patric Lindahl
- Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
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