Investigation of chromatographic procedures for the analysis of cationic impurities in uranium and plutonium matrices by ICP-OES and ICP-MS

Four different separation protocols were tested to analyze several cations in a U-Pu matrix by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or mass spectrometry (ICP-MS): UTEVA resin with HNO 3 eluent, UTEVA resin with HNO 3 /H 2 C 2 O 4 eluent, UTEVA resin with HNO 3 /H 2 O 2 eluent and TEVA resin with HNO 3 eluent. It was shown that none of the twenty nine tested cations (Al, Ag, B, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pd, Rh, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Y and Zn) was retained onto the resin, with recovery yields between 80 and 120 %. Meanwhile, the U-Pu matrix was retained onto the resin and was eliminated from the fraction containing the cations. After initial testing, two of the protocols were chosen: UTEVA resin with HNO 3 /H 2 C 2 O 4 eluent and UTEVA resin with HNO 3 /H 2 O 2 eluent thanks to their efficacy and practicality. Then, the two selected protocols were applied to a uranium oxide certified reference material to validate them. Twenty three out of the thirty one impurities presents in the material (Ag, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Eu, Fe, Gd, In, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sm, Sn, Ti, V, W and Zr) were determined with good recoveries. Th was fixed onto the resin. Based on theses results, it seems possible to analyze the forty one impurities in a U-Pu material by optimizing the operating conditions. These two protocols were used to study the presence of impurities in a Pu-based material to ensure the purity of the materials. Detection limits in the order of μg g −1 powder were obtained. • Efficient separation of cationic impurities in U-Pu matrix. • Chromatographic technique to separate cations from U, Pu and Th using UTEVA resin. • Measurement of trace and ultra-trace cations in U-Pu matrix by ICP-OES and ICP-MS.