Determination of plutonium in large volume of urine

Abstract

A method was developed for the determination of plutonium in urine excreted within 72 hours (4–6 l) by an individual, mainly for monitoring internal contamination of persons working with plutonium. Plutonium is successively separated from organic and inorganic macrocomponents present in urine and from other alpha emitters by the help of coprecipitation techniques and by the help of extraction with TTA. The sample is measured on a ZnS scintillation detector. The lowest prbable activity is 0.15 pCi of239Pu/24 hrs urine.