SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE ACTINIDES IN ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES USING ION-EXCHANGERS AND MINERAL-ACID SOLUTIONS

Analysis of the nuclear-physical properties of natural and man-made ra dionuclides shows that analyzed actinides can be contaminatedy during their chemical separation and that the energies of alpha-emissions can overlap during spectrometric determination of these elements. The beh avior of Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, and other elements on ion exch angers in HCl, HNO3, HClO4, H3PO4, HF, and H2SO4 solutions is systemat ically investigated as a function of acid concentration and type of io n exchanger. Schemes are proposed for the successive separation of the actinides, interfering radionuclides (Ra, Po), and macroscopic impuri ties (Fe, Al, etc.) that use cation or anion exchangers and gradient e lution by mineral-acid solutions. The advantages of using the develope d methods to separate and determine actinides in the environment are d iscussed.