Methods for the determination of U-238, Pu-239, Pu-240 and Am-241 from Little Forest Legacy Site (LFLS) groundwater using on-line SeaFast pre-concentration coupled to ICPMS

Abstract

Analyses of groundwaters within Little Forest Legacy Site in eastern Australia have been performed using a number of techniques. Uranium concentration has been analysed using a combination of ICPMS and alpha spectrometry whilst plutonium and americium activity measurements have been performed using alpha spectrometry and accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS). The SeaFAST is an automated on-line lCPMS sample introduction system without sample preparation required for the determination of ultra-trace metals in undiluted water samples. The use of sample pre-concentration and procedural blanks eliminates matrix effects whilst improving reliability. This system is often applied to swiftly analyse for rare earth elements as well as uranium and thorium in surface and groundwater systems. The development of a method which could be used to analyse for plutonium and americium could extend the application of the SeaFAST-ICPMS system whilst also providing a complementary or quick screening technique. This paper presents the significant steps in developing and validating the SeaFAST-lCPMS method as well as reporting isotope ratio results.