Comparison of electrodeposition and microcoprecipitation for measuring alpha nuclides

An alpha source which has a remarkable energy resolution is required to accurately analyze such α emitters of these actinide nuclides. Sources for alpha spectrometric measurements have usually been prepared by a vacuum sublimation, a direct evaporation, an electrodeposition, and a micro-coprecipitation. Among the α source preparations, an electrodeposition is a commonly used method for the preparation of sources for an alpha spectrometry, because this technique is simple and produces a very thin deposit, which is essential for a high resolution of the alpha peak. Recently, microcoprecipitations with rare earths have been used to yield sources for α-spectrometry, as these methods are simple and more rapid than an electrodeposition. In this work, the Pu, Am and Cm isotopes were purified from hindrance nuclides and elements with an anion exchange resin and a TRU resin in radioactive waste samples, and the activity concentrations of the Pu, Am and Cm isotopes were determined by radiation counting methods after alpha source preparation such as electrodeposition and microcoprecipitation