Determination of plutonium and americium in environmental samples by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry

Application of inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) for the determination of americium and plutonium in environmental samples is described in comparison with alpha spectrometry. A sequential sample preparation method was employed using a co-precipitation step for pre-concentration and a separation step applying extraction chromatographic resins. The average recovery of sample preparation calculated from the concentration of the tracer before and after sample treatment was better than 80%. The method development focused on the elimination of possible interferences in mass spectrometric analysis caused by molecular ions (e.g. 200Hg40Ar+, 204Pb36Ar+, 208Pb16O2+or 238U1H+) employing matrix separation and desolvation prior to ICP-SFMS analysis. The effect of N2 gas on signal intensity and oxide ratio was investigated. A two-fold signal improvement was obtained by adding 5 ml min− 1 N2 to the sample gas after the desolvation system. For 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu and 241Am limit of detection (LOD) of 15, 9.2, 14 and 104 fg g− 1 was achieved, respectively. Calculation of LOD was based on three times standard deviation of the method blank solution. Absolute detection limit was calculated to be 10–25 fg. For all investigated actinides the precision of the analysis was in the range 0.8–3% relative standard deviation. Results from the analysis of certified reference materials (IAEA-384 and IAEA-385) showed good agreement with recommended values and data available in the literature. The method was applied for analysis of environmental samples originated from Chernobyl and from Mayak region. The possibility of the determination of the origin and date of pollution was demonstrated using isotopic data obtained by ICP-SFMS and alpha spectrometry.