Application of inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry for low-level environmental americium-241 analysis

摘要

An improved and novel sample preparation method for 241 Am analysis by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry has been developed.The procedure involves a selective CaF2 pre-concentration followed by an extraction chromatographic separation using TRU~(?)resin.The achieved absolute detection limit of 0.86 fg(0.11 mBq)is comparable to that of alpha spectrometry(0.1 mBq)and suitable for low-level environmental measurements.Analysis of different kinds of environmental standard reference materials(IAEA-384-Fangataufa lagoon sediment,IAEA-385-Irish Sea sediment and IAEA-308-Mixed seaweed from the Mediterranean Sea)and alpha spectrometry were used to validate the procedure.The chemical recovery of sample preparation ranged between 72 and 94%.The results obtained are in good agreement with reference values and those measured by alpha spectrometry.The proposed method offers a rapid and less labor-intensive possibility for environmental241 Am analysis than the conventionally applied radioanalytical techniques.