Method for multi-element alpha-spectrometry of actinides and its application to environmental radioactivity studies

A method is proposed for measuring simultaneously several actinide elements by alpha-spectrometry. The actinides in sample solutions are sorbed together on an anion-exchange column from a nitric acid-methanol mixture. After simultaneous elution and electroplating on a disc, the actinides are determined by alpha-spectrometry. Radiochemical yields of the procedure for Th, U, Np, Pu, Am and Cm are better than 50%, all falling within a range of +/- 5%. Examples of the application of this method to various marine environmental samples such as sea-water, seaweed and marine sediment are presented.