Radiochemical determination of plutonium in marine samples by extraction chromatography

Very low levels of plutonium (239240Pu and 238Pu) in marine samples (sea water, sediments, marine organisms) are determined by extraction on columns of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide supported on microporous polyethylene (Microthene-710), electrode-position and α-spectrometry. 236Pu or 242Pu is added as the yield detector and a high-resolution α-spectrometer is used for counting. The final recoveries are 62.6% +- 9.7(sigma) for sea water, 45.4% +- 9.6(sigma) for sediments and 81.7% +- 4.5(sigma) for marine organisms. The method enables 239240Pu and 238Pu to be detected at the femtocurie level. (Auth.)