Patent ID: 11898960
Assignee: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 14:
15. A method for rapid detection of actinides in a contamination, where the actinides are present in the concentration on the order of parts-per-billion, the method comprising:
a) having a support including a colorimetric complexation, wherein the colorimetric complexation is a hybrid combination of 2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol(Br-PADAP) and 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN), the colorimetric complexation configured to activate when contacted by a threshold concentration of at least one actinide;
b) separating a sample separated from the contamination;
c) placing the support in communication with the sample through urinalysis, the sample having an unknown concentration of at least one actinide within it;
d) activating the colorimetric complexation when contacted by the at least one actinide, and
e) receiving one or more visual indicators within about 5 minutes of the support communicating with the sample from the colorimetric complexation on a condition that the sample contains at least a threshold concentration of the actinide, the visual indicators including a first visual indicator that is configured to change to a purple color on a condition that the sample contains at least a threshold concentration of uranium and a second visual indicator that is configured to produce a non-purple color on a condition that the sample contains at least a threshold concentration of an actinide that is plutonium.