Rapid Determination of Np/Pu
in 20-75g Soil Samples (ICP-MS)

AN-1436
Summary of Method Plutonium and Neptunium are separated and concentrated from 20-75 gram soil samples.
Samples are leached with HNO3 and HCl. The leachates are evaporated to dryness, and sequential precipitations withFe/Ti-hydroxide and LaF3 facilitate matrix removal. Pu-Np are separated on 2mL cartridges of Eichrom TEVA and DGA
resins. Pu-Np are measured by ICP-MS. Chemical yields of the 242Pu tracer were 87+4%, 75+6%, and 70+3% for 20, 50
and 75g samples, respectively. Measured values for 239Pu agreed to within 1% of reference values, while 237Np agreed
to within 15%. Decontamination factors of >106 were achieved for Pu over U (238U-H can interfere with the measurementof 239Pu by ICP-MS). Sample preparation for batches of 12 samFigure 1. Sample Preparation
ples can be completed by a single operator in <8 hours.
Dry 20-75g soil at 110°C. Blend and Size.
Reagents
TEVA Resin, 2mL Cartridges (Eichrom TE-R50-S)
DGA Resin, Normal, 2mL Cartridges (Eichrom DN-R50-S)
Iron carrier (50mg/mL Fe, as ferric iron nitrate)
242Pu tracer
La carrier (10mg/mL)
Deionized Water
2M Al(NO3)310% (w:w) TiCl3
HNO3 (70%)
HCl (37%)
NH4OH (28% HN3 or 56% NH4OH)
HF (49%) or NaF
Boric acid
NaNO2
Sulfamic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride

Aliquot sample to 600mL glass beaker. Add 242Pu.
Add 1.5mL 70% HNO3 and 0.5mL 37% HCl pergram of sample. Heat to 80°C on hotplate.
Transfer liquid to 250mL centrifuge tube.
Add 20mL 70% HNO3 to beaker. Warm beaker.
Transfer liquid to same 250mL centrifuge tube.
Repeat once.
Centrifuge 3500 rpm, 10 min.
Transfer leachate to 600mL beaker.
Evaporate to dryness.
Dissolve residue in 20mL 1M HCl. Warm if necessary.

Equipment
Vacuum Box (Eichrom AR-24-BOX or AR-12-BOX)
Cartridge Reservoir, 20mL (Eichrom AR-200-RV20)
Inner Support Tubes-PE (Eichrom AR-1000-TUBE-PE)
Yellow Outer Tips (Eichrom AR-1000-OT)
600mL Glass beakers
50mL and 250mL Centrifuge Tubes
ICP-MS system
Centrifuge
Hot Plate
Analytical Balance
Vacuum Pump

Dilute samples to 180mL.
Add 5mg La, 125mg of Fe, and 20mL 10% TiCl3.
Mix. Add 25mL 56% NH4OH. Mix.
Centrifuge 3500 rpm. 5min. Decant supernate
Partially dissolve in 60mL 1.5M HCl.
Solids will remain. Dilute to 170mL.
Add 3mg La and 20mL 10% TiCl3. Mix.
Add 22mL 49% HF. Mix.
Place in ice bath for 10min.
Centrifuge 3500 rpm. 5min. Decant supernate.
Dissolve solids in 6mL 3M HNO3-0.25M H3BO3,8.5mL 7M HNO3, and 8mL 2M Al(NO3)3. Warming
samples can improve dissolution.

Figure 2. Actinide Separation on TEVA - DGA(8) Rinse TEVA with 5mL 3M HNO3.
Cool samples to room temp. Fix
valence by adding: (mix between steps) (9) Strip Np from TEVA with 14mL
0.25M HCl-0.005M HF-0.01M-0.5mL 1.5M sulfamic acid
Hydroxylamine hydrochloride.
-40uL 50mg/mL Fe carrier-1.5mL 1M ascorbic acid (Wait 3 min)(10) Rinse DGA with:-1mL 3.5M NaNO2-5mL 8M HNO3
(1) Precondition 2mL TEVA,-20mL 0.1M HNO3
cartridges with 5mL 8M HNO3.
-10mL 0.05M HNO3.
TEVA(2) Load Sample.
(11) Strip Pu from DGA with 11mL(3) Rinse centrifuge tube
0.02M HCl-0.005M HF-0.01M
with 5mL 6M HNO3. Add
Hydroxylamine hydrochloride.
to TEVA.*(12) Measure 237Np and Pu by(4) Rinse cartridges with:
ICP-MS.
-30mL 3M HNO3-15mL 9M HCl (Th removal)(5) Add 2mL DGA cartridge
below TEVA.**(6) Strip Pu from TEVA onto
DGA with 15mL 3M HNO30.1M Ascorbic Acid0.02M Fe2+.

TEVA

DGA

(7) Separate TEVA and DGA.
*Adding 50uL of 30% H2O2 to the 6M HNO3 tube rinse can further improve uranium decontamination factors.
**Placing a 1mL UTEVA cartridge between TEVA and DGA can provide additional decontamination from uranium.

References
1) Sherrod L. Maxwell, Brian K. Culligan, Gary W. Noyes, “Rapid separation method for 237Np and Pu isotopes inlarge soil samples,” Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 69(7), 917-925 (2011).
2) Sherrod L. Maxwell, Brian K. Culligan, Vernon D. Jones, Sheldon T. Nichols, Gary W. Noyes, Maureen A. Bernard,“Rapid Determination of 237Np and Plutonium Isotopes by ICP-MS and Alpha Spectrometry,” Health Physics,
101(2), 180-186 (2011).
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