Determination of Pu isotopes and 241Am in a reference fallout material using SF-ICP-MS

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2011 Jul;146(1-3):307-10. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr177. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Abstract

This paper reports on the characterisation of activities of Pu and (241)Am, and Pu isotopic composition in a reference fallout material prepared by the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI), Japan, from samples collected at 14 stations throughout Japan in 1963-1979. The acid leaching and total digestion were used to compare whether there is difference in Pu and (241)Am activities and Pu isotopic composition between these two methods. The results of activities of (239+240)Pu and (241)Pu, and Pu isotopic composition have been reported in the previous work (Sci. Total Environ. 2010, 408, 1139-1144). In this study, the (241)Am activity and (241)Am/(239+240)Pu activity ratio in the reference fallout material are reported, and the usefulness of Pu atom ratios and (241)Am/(239+240)Pu activity ratio for source identification is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Americium / analysis*
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Mass Spectrometry*
  • Plutonium / analysis*
  • Radioactive Fallout / analysis*

Substances

  • Radioactive Fallout
  • Plutonium
  • Americium