Rapid separation and extraction of radioactive analytes onto filters and surfaces

Abstract This paper presents a radiochemical procedure that combines radiochemical sample preparation and analyte separation to provide a rapid sample preparation method. Extractive ligands are prepared in a polymer matrix. This system can be immobilized on a surface or on a filter. Filters allow rapid sample uptake due to the movement of the analyte through the filter material. These approaches offer fast uptake kinetics, high material loading, and good selectivity. These systems have been demonstrated for the rapid extraction of plutonium and americium from solution and their subsequent analysis by alpha spectrometry, with no additional sample preparation required, thus eliminating extensive wet chemical processes that would otherwise be necessary. We have evaluated the extraction efficiency that can be obtained and have shown that these systems can provide for alpha spectrometry peak widths near what can be obtained using traditional techniques such as electroplating. We have also demonstrated Polymer Ligand Films (PLFs) for the selective extraction of plutonium from a solution prepared from a soil digest.