Developed By

Laboratory of Radiochemistry
Department of Chemistry
University of Helsinki
Finland

Learning Goals

Here the learning goals and purpose of the exercise should be presented in a reasonable way.

Explanation and Exercise Guide

Theory

239,240Pu, 238Pu and 241Am in the environment originate mainly from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in the 1950-1960’s. 241Am is a daughter nuclide of 241Pu, and its amount increases constantly in the environment due to decay of the parent.

Extraction chromatography combines efficiency and selectivity of solvent extraction and convenience of chromatographic resin. Water solution is the mobile phase and the stationary phase is organic solvent that is attached to an inert support polymer. Benefits of extraction chromatography compared to ion exchange are smaller waste amounts (acid solutions) and faster analysis.

Eichrom/Triskem's UTEVA resin is designed for separation of uranium and tetravalent actinides. TRU resin is used to separate transuranium nuclides.

Experimental Procedure

Analysis of Sediment Containing Pu and Am

Other

Reporting:
Describe in detail the whole separation procedure and explain why each step was made. Draw a separation procedure scheme.

Calculate the chemical yields of Pu and Am separations.


Calculate the activity concentrations of Pu and Am in the sediment and their uncertainties.

Safety Aspects

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Equipment

Description of the equipment needed and used during the exercises.

Preparation for the lab Supervisor

The preparation that the lab Supervisor needs to do to ready the lab.

Feedback from Users and Supervisors

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