Uptake of plutonium on a novel thin film for use in spectrometry

Abstract

Anion-exchange polymer thin films (~150 nm) were coated onto silicon substrates and utilized for rapid concentration and radioanalytical analyses of actinide complexes (PuCl6 2−, Pu(NO3)6 2−). Batch uptake studies were performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting, and alpha spectroscopy. The thin film yielded rapid Pu uptake kinetics and an equilibrium constant (K d) of approximately 9060 L kg−1. The anion-exchange capacity of the films was determined to be 1.3 × 10−4 ± 1.1 × 10−5 eq g−1 using 36Cl uptake studies. Results indicated that the polymer films have great potential for utilization as a substrate for thermal ionization mass spectrometry and alpha spectroscopy.