Alpha-spectrometric analysis of uranium and thorium using solid-phase extraction for sample preparation

A method is presented here for the preparation of thin uniform samples of n aturally occurring uranium and thorium which are highly suitable for cc-spe ctrometric analysis. The solid-phase extraction procedure simultaneously ac hieves a complete separation of the analytes from the sample matrix and a h igh enrichment factor for uranium and thorium, so that the ensuing eluate i s ideally suited for either electrodeposition or ICP-MS, without the need f or complicated and painstaking sample preparation. In contrast to conventio nal liquid-liquid phase-extraction methods, no organic waste solutions are produced, and the process can be easily automated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.