Multicollection inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. As a tool for determination of long-lived radionuclides in sub-mBq activity-level

In the last few years inductively coupled plasma has become one of the most suitable and quick multielemental analytical technique. It will be successfully established in many application fields, in particular, in the elemental analytic in ultra-trace concentration level. In current work the capability of Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS, Neptune/Plus) for determination of long-lived Radionuclides in sub-mBq activity levels will be examined. The results of the validation (stability, accuracy, robustness, reproducibility) of the MC-ICP-MS FZJ are presented. The Results are in a good agreement with the expected values and shows that with the developed procedure the LOD for U-234, U-235 and U-238 of 1.66E-6, 4.4E-08 and 1.88E-8, respectively could be achieved. Further results for the LODs of the selected radionuclides, for example, Cm-244, Np-237, Ra- 226 und Tc-99 are in the mBq L-1 activity region and are dependent on the specific activity of the determined radionuclide. (orig.)