Rapid determination of Pu isotopes for decommission concrete samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Plutonium is one of the key radionuclides in nuclear decommission. In this study, a rapid method was developed to analyze Pu for concrete samples using total digestion, CaF 2 /LaF 3 coprecipitation, extraction chromatography using TEVA and DGA resins, and ICP-MS measurement. The whole analytical process can be achieved within 2 days, with sufficiently high decontamination factors of interfering elements and high Pu chemical recovery (57–93%). The high throughput (22 samples/2 days) and low LODs (0.008 mBq g −1 for 239 Pu and 0.02 mBq g −1 for 240 Pu) allow this method to effectively detect low level Pu contamination in concrete samples.