Actinides analysis by alpha-spectrometry and neutron activation analysis

Actinides in the environmental sample were separated by solvent extraction method and analyzed by alpha spectrometry. For overcoming high detection limits of U and Th in alpha spectrometry, Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was applied. For applying NAA, trace impurities in high purity Al, Cu, Pb and V were analyzed by NAA and electrodeposition characteristic was studied. For the separation of actinides from matrix, anion exchange resin and TRU-spec extraction chromatography resin were used and chemical yields were obtained using natural uranium, thorium, 242Pu and 243Am tracers. Using combined method, the detection limit was increased about 3 times. The activity value of each isotope was consistent with the reference values reported by IAEA and NIST