Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Volume/Issue:
Volume 267: Issue 1
Determination of Pu isotopes in sediment cores in the Sea of Okhotsk and the NW Pacific by sector field ICP-MS
Authors:
J. Zheng Nakaminato Laboratory for Marine Radioecology, National Institute of Radiological Sciences 3609 Isozaki-cho, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, 311-1202 Japan

Search for other papers by J. Zheng in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
M. Yamada Nakaminato Laboratory for Marine Radioecology, National Institute of Radiological Sciences 3609 Isozaki-cho, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, 311-1202 Japan

Search for other papers by M. Yamada in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
73–83
Online Publication Date:
14 Jan 2006
Publication Date:
17 Dec 2005
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-006-0011-2
Restricted access

Summary  

Studies on the environmental behavior of plutonium in the marine environment require an analytical method with high sensitivity and capability to provide the isotopic composition of Pu in marine samples. In this work, as part of our on-going project on Pu environmental behavior in the Pacific Ocean, a sector field ICP-MS method combined with an off-line anion-exchange chromatography system was optimized for the determination of Pu and its atomic ratio of 240Pu/239Pu in sediment core samples. Using a conical concentric nebulizer and 150-second counting time, we were able to lower the detection limit of Pu down to 0.35 fg. The mass discrimination effect was evaluated using a mixed Pu isotope standard solution with certified a 240Pu/239Pu isotope ratio (NBS-947). The overall performance of the analytical method was validated by the determination of Pu and its isotope composition in an ocean sediment reference material (IAEA-368). Both the 239+240Pu activity and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio were found to be in good agreement with the certified and/or literature values. As an important application, we employed the analytical method to investigate the vertical profiles of 239+240Pu activity and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio in sediment cores in the Sea of Okhotsk and the NW Pacific. It was found that the Bikini close-in fallout Pu could be transported as far as the Sea of Okhotsk. The results provided evidence to support our hypothesis on the oceanic current transportation of Bikini close-in fallout Pu in the NW Pacific and its marginal seas.

  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Print ISSN:
0236-5731
Online ISSN:
1588-2780

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 1968
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 12
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2780 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Nov 2024 14 0 0
Dec 2024 8 0 0
Jan 2025 18 0 0
Feb 2025 7 0 0
Mar 2025 9 0 0
Apr 2025 2 0 0
May 2025 1 0 0