Development of radiochemical analysis of uranium isotopes in highly contaminated soil samples

An accurate and reliable analytical technique of uranium isotopes in highly contaminated soil samples was developed and applied to the IAEA reference samples. The conventional TBP method of uranium isotopes is insufficient to completely purify uranium from actinides such as plutonium and americium i sotopes in highly contaminated soil samples. For overcoming the demerits of the conventional TBP extraction method, sample materials were decomposed w ith HNO3 and HF, and uranium isotopes were purified by TBP extraction and a nion exchange columns and extraction chromatograph. Among the purifying met hods of uranium, with a TRU Spec resin column after TBP solvent extraction, uranium was completely separated from the radionuclides in a highly contam inated samples. With the modified TBP extraction method, it was found that the concentrations of uranium isotopes were consistent with the reference v alues reported by the IAEA.