Rapid determination of Pu isotopes and atom ratios in small amounts of environmental samples by an on-line sample pre-treatment system and isotope dilution high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

• DOI: 10.1039/a907739a
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T09:14:55Z
• Authors: Cheol-Su Kim; Chang-Kyu Kim; Jong-In Lee; Kun-Jai Lee
• Keywords: Isotope dilution; Sample Preparation; Nebulizer; Certified reference materials; Dilution

Isotope dilution (ID) high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) combined with an on-line sample pre-treatment method was applied to the trace determination of 239Pu, 240Pu and 240Pu/239Pu ratios in small amounts environmental samples. To reduce interference effect 238U, a microconcentric nebulizer, MCN-6000®, used as introduction method, which showed 5-fold lower UH+/U+ ratio than conventional pneumatic nebulizer. 238U separation preconcentration Pu were performed sequentially on two extraction resins, Sr-Spec® TEVA-Spec®, PrepLabTM, integrated liquid handing system. By reducing final volume 2.4 ml, injecting it into HR-ICP-MS system employing MCN-6000, analysis isotopes is feasible 1 g soil sediment having level Pu. The detection limits for 242Pu by this about 4 fg ml−1 (9.2 µBq ml−1), 3 (25 ml−1) 6 (0.87 respectively. These represent total 9.6, 7.2 14 volume. After digestion sample, elimination procedures fully automated. Sample preparation therefore far simpler full process can be achieved within 5 h. analytical reliability confirmed using several certified or standard reference materials (NIST SRM-4350b, IAEA-6, IAEA-300, IAEA-367, IAEA-368, IAEA-375).