On the sequential separation and quantification of Np, Am, thorium, plutonium, and uranium isotopes in environmental and urine samples.

The implementation of the one-pass-through separation technique using two stacked chromatography columns of TEVA - TRU resins for the separation of Np, Am, thorium, plutonium and uranium from environmental and urine samples was investigated. The sequential separation technique proved to be successful and gave similar results to those obtained when using individual separations. The analysis time was considerably improved. The amount of chemical waste was also reduced by 50% and the use of HClO was avoided. The technique of ICP-MS was also investigated as a complementary technique to alpha-spectrometry.