Measurement of total alpha-activity of neptunium, plutonium and americium in simulated Hanford waste by iron hydroxide precipitation and 2-heptanone solvent extraction

Abstract

An improved method has been developed to concentrale the major α-emitting actinide elements neptunium, plutonium, and americium from samples with high salt content such as those resulting from efforts to characterize Hanford storage tank waste. Actinide elements are concentrated by coprecipitation of their hydroxides using iron carrier. The iron is removed by extraction from 8M HCl with 2-heptanone. The actinide elements remain in the aqueous phase free from salts and iron. Recoveries averaged 98%.