Rapid Separation of Plutonium in Environmental Samples Using an Anion Exchange Resin Disk

A rapid analytical method of Pu in environmental samples by alpha-ray spectrometry and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) using a 3M Empore anion exchange resin disk for solid phase extraction has been developed. A trace amount of Pu was quantitatively adsorbed with an Empore anion exchange resin disk (47 mm diam.) at a flow rate of 150–200 ml/min from 8M HNO₃ sample solution. The disk was washed with 10 ml of 8M HNO₃ and 12 ml of 9M HCl and then the Pu was quantitatively eluted with 15 ml of 1M HNO₃/0.03M ascorbic acid solution. The time needed to separate Pu from the sample solution with the present method was about 20 minutes. The separated Pu was determined with alpha-ray spectrometry and HR-ICP-MS. The present method was applied to the determination of Pu in the certified reference material (IAEA-135) and the environmental soil sample. The analytical results were almost in good agreement with the literature values.