Summary of Method

Uranium, Plutonium, and Americium-Curium are separated and concentrated from up to 200g tissue samples. Samples are digested with aqua regia, wet ashed with HNO3-H2O2 and muffled over night at 550°C to destroy organic content. Actinides are separated from matrix impurities and potentially interfering radionuclides in the sample using stacked 2mL cartridges of Eichrom TEVA, TRU and DGA Resin. Actinides are measured via alpha spectrometry following cerium fluoride microprecipitation onto Eichrom Resolve® Filters. Average chemical recoveries of
Pu for 100-200g samples are 93-101%. Typical americium recoveries are 93-105%. Typical uranium recoveries are 82-96%. A single operator can complete the sample preparation for 12-24 samples, including 16 hours for muffling, in less than 24 hours.