Rapid selective separation of americium/curium from simulated nuclear forensic matrices using triazine ligands

Matthew Higginson, Paul Thompson, Olivia Marsden, Francis Livens, Laurence Harwood, Frank Lewis, Michael Hudson, Sarah Heath

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In analysis of complex nuclear forensic samples containing lanthanides, actinides and matrix elements, rapid selective extraction of Am/Cm for quantification is challenging, in particular due the difficult separation of Am/Cm from lanthanides. Here we present a separation process for Am/Cm(III) which is achieved using a combination of AG1-X8 chromatography followed by Am/Cm extraction with a triazine ligand. The ligands tested in our process were CyMe4-BTPhen, CyMe4-BTBP, CA-BTP and CA-BTPhen. Our process allows for purification and quantification of Am and Cm (recoveries 80%-100%) and other major actinides in <2d without the use of multiple columns or thiocyanate. The process is unaffected by high level Ca(II)/Fe(III)/Al(III) (10mg mL(-1)) and thus requires little pre-treatment of samples.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)687-694
JournalRadiochimica Acta
Volume103
Issue number10
Early online date6 Jul 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2015

Keywords

  • Americium separation
  • nuclear forensics
  • triazine ligand
  • BTPhen
  • BTBP

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