New approaches for the separation and determination of americium in soil samples using short column chromatography and alpha spectroscopy

This paper describes new approaches to digestion, accurate separation and determination of americium in soil samples by alpha spectrometry. The soil samples were obtained from surface and at a depth of 40?cm in a residential area. They were digested on a hot plate or in closed vessels heated in a microwave oven. The effect of decomposition methods on accuracy and reproducibility has been investigated. An extraction chromatography column is used to separate the americium from other actinide elements and interfering substances in the soil matrix. Prior to the determination of very low amounts of americium (100?ng?g^?1), electrodeposition at a current of 800?mA and a plating time of 150?min in the pH range of 2?C3 has been applied. The typical recovery of Am from the samples is 88?% when dissolution occurs in a microwave oven. This is higher than the typical recovery of 83?% that is observed when the samples are heated on a hot plate.