Latest achievements in the analytical chemistry of actinides

Abstract

New methods for separation and determination of actinides, widely used in analysis of actinides in technological and environmental samples are reviewed. Special attention is paid to obtaining and stabilizing transplutonium elements. (TPE) in extreme oxidation states. Their use in analytical practice resulted in expanding possibilities of methods for separation and determination of TPE. Solvent extraction, sorption and extraction chromatography are the basic methods for separation of TPE. Solvent extraction, sorption and extraction chromatography are the basic methods for separation of TPE. Methods of separation in gas phase and some other methods such as precipitation and coprecipitation are applied, however, to a lesser degree. Trends of development of these methods including those of various types of membrane extraction that succeeded in separation of TPE in both trivalent and other valence states have been shown. Attention is paid mainly to consideration of modern methods for determination of actinides, special distinction of such methods being low limits of determination, high precision and selectivity. Alpha- and beta-spectrometric methods with semiconductor detectors are the most advanced among various methods based on registration of nuclear radiation. Tremendous success has been achieved in development of emission-spectrometric methods for determination of trace amounts of actinides and various impure elements occurring in samples of actinides. Sensitive mass-spectrometric methods are widely used for determination of both isotope composition and content of elements in various samples including those which are highly radioactive. More simple and precise titrimetric methods based on using oxidizing-reducing or complexing agents are developed successfully. A large number of coulometric methods for determination of americium and berkelium, characterizing high precision and selectivity as well as luminescence methods have been developed.