DOE EML: Am-04-RC: Americium and Plutonium by Ion Exchange and Alpha Spectrometry
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Official Method Name
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Americium in QAP Water and Air Filters - Eichrom's TRU Resin |
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Current Revision
| Rev. 0 |
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Media
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VARIOUS |
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Instrumentation
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Alpha Spectrometer/Counter |
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Method Subcategory
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Radiochemical |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Brief Method Summary
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Water and air filters are equilibrated with americium and processed through plutonium separation steps using ion exchange. The eluate from the ion exchange column is evaporated, redissolved, and loaded onto a TRU Resin extraction column. The americium (and curium, if present) is separated and purified on the column and finally stripped with dilute nitric acid. Microprecipitation of the chloride salts is followed by analysis by alpha spectrometry using Procedure A-01-R. |
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Scope and Application
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Separation and analysis of spiked water and air filter samples that contain americium but not lanthanides. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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Interferences
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Lanthanides will significantly reduce the resolution of the alpha-spectrograph. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Americium-243 tracer and other appropriate tracers must be added prior to separation and analysis. |
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Sample Handling
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See Procedure Pu-10-RC for water samples. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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Relative Cost
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Unknown |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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See Procedure Pu-10-RC for water samples. |
