Separation and analysis of actinides by extraction chromatography coupled with alpha-particle liquid scintillation spectrometry

This work describes the development and testing of a new method for the separation and analysis of most actinides of interest in environmental samples. It combines simplified extraction chromatography using highly selective absorption resins (EiChrom columns) to partition the individual actinides with the measurement of their alpha-particle activities by liquid scintillation spectrometry using the Photon-Electron Rejecting Alpha Liquid Scintillation (PERALSTM) system. Water and soil samples along with environment quality-assurance standards are routinely processed by this method with an accuracy of ±5 to 20% at activity levels of 0.01 to 0.1 Bq