In vitro monitoring of Pu using dilute HNO₃- PC88A extraction system

In this new method, Pu in urine is co-precipitated with Ca₂C₂O₄ from wet oxidized urine matrix and oxalate ions are destroyed with HClO₄. Pu in + 4 state is extracted into 0.01M PC-88A (2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) dissolved in toluene from optimized 4M HNO₃ aqueous phase. Pu is stripped into 5% ammonium carbonate solution and is evaporated with HNO₃ to destroy carbonate ions. Finally, Pu is electrodeposited in ammonium oxalate medium and counted in an alpha-spectrometer. The detailed study of the work is presented in this paper. (author)