Determination of 238PU and 239+240PU in Marine Sediment Using Alpha Spectrometry

Abstract

A radiochemical separation method to determine plutonium (Pu) radioisotopes in
environmental samples has been established in Radiochemistry and Environmental
Laboratory in Malaysia. The analysis involving sample digestion with aqua regia solution
and followed by radiochemical separation using ion exchange method. The source for alpha
spectrometry was prepared by electrodeposition. The chemical recoveries were determined
using 242Pu tracer. The method was tested on reference materials and on real sediments
from Malaysia marine environment. The validity of the method was checked for coherence
using the t-test, relative error and relative standard deviation. All the results obtained were
in good agreement with the reference values which indicated that the recommended
procedures was successfully applied for the determination of plutonium activities in
Radiochemistry and Environmental Laboratory in Malaysia.