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Optimization of extraction chromatography separations of trace levels of actinides with ICP‐MS detection
Author(s) -
Peterson Dominic S.,
Plionis Alexander A.,
Gonzales Edward R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of separation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1615-9314
pISSN - 1615-9306
DOI - 10.1002/jssc.200600513
Subject(s) - actinide , chromatography , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , chemistry , oxalic acid , extraction (chemistry) , mass spectrometry , column chromatography , inductively coupled plasma , analytical chemistry (journal) , radiochemistry , nuclear chemistry , plasma , inorganic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
The separation of trace level actinides has been evaluated on extraction chromatography columns. Detection of the actinides was achieved through the use of an inductively coupled plasma MS (ICP‐MS). The columns that we tested were prepared from a commercial TRU resin. The separation of the actinides was optimized for several parameters including particle size, column length, packing pressure, and eluent flow rate. We also examined the possibility of reducing or eliminating oxalic acid in the eluents in order to improve the performance of the mass spectrometer. We were able to separate a mixture of five actinides ( 232 Th, 238 U, 237 Np, 239 Pu, 243 Am) in less than 4 min. This work has application to rapid bioassay as well as for automated separations of actinide materials.