An optimised and robust method for the determination of uranium and plutonium in aqueous samples

摘要

The paper describes a method for the separation of uranium and plutonium isotopes using anion exchange resin and UTEVA resin in stacked sequential columns for routine analysis of river water and liquid effluent samples. The optimisation of the UTEVA column for separation of U is described and compared with the conventional anion exchange technique for the separation of U from Fe. The stacked anion exchange and UTEVA column configuration facilitates a more rapid and efficient separation of Pu and U and also reduces the quantity of reagents required for the separation.