Ion-exchange separation of uranium, thorium and plutonium isotopes from environmental samples

Abstract

Radioisotopes of uranium, thorium and plutonium in water, soil and fertilizer samples, have been chemically separated and determined by alpha-spectrometry method. Radiochemical procedure involving ion-exchange, enabled to determine these isotopes in very low concentrations (under 50 μBq/g).232U,229Th and238Pu were used as a tracers for radiochemical yield recoveries (up to 90%). Thin layer sources have been obtained by electrodeposition.