Ultratrace and isotope ratios analyses of some radionuclides by ICP-MS

Abstract

Abstract Extensive work is under way using High Resolution-ICP-MS for 90 Sr, 234 U, 235 U, 238 U, 239 Pu, 240 Pu, and 241 Am detection. Sample preparation procedures based on liquid-liquid extraction and ion exchange chromatography were developed. Sr, U, Pu, and Am were separated from their matrix and concentrated to improve the power of detection in the mass spectrometer. A microconcentric nebulizer with a desolvation introduction system (Ardius) is used. Instrumental limits of detection using Sr and U standard solutions are 0.01 ppt and 0.006 ppt for Sr and U, respectively. A study is presented on the mass interferences for the specified radionuclides. In the environmental samples investigated the 90 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratio is 6.02×10 -9 and for 240 Pu/ 239 Pu the isotope ratio is 0.17.