Electrodeposition of actinides for alpha-spectrometry

The electrodeposition of the actinides U, Th, Pu, Am, and Cm on stainless s teel disks was studied. A sodium hydrogen sulphate - sodium sulphate buffer 0.63 M in total sulphate and a ratio sodium hydrogen sulphate to total sul phate ranging from 0.16 (pH 1.8) to 0.48 (pH 1.3) allows the quantitative e lectrodeposition of the given actinides. No actual pH measurement is needed . Moreover, sodium hydrogen sulphate is an excellent substrate fur the wet ashing of organic matter prior to electrodeposition. The method is very rob ust.