The Sequential Separation and Analytical Determination of Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium, Americium, and Curium in Urine*

This research is concerned with the development of an analytical method applicable for the routine determination and assay of the body-burden of the alpha-emitting isotopes of the actinide elements from biological sample. The procedure is designed to supplement or replace the procedures currently employed for such determinations by the Bioassay Group of the Argonne Rational Laboratory. All laboratory work was done at the Argonne National Laboratory in cooperation with the Industrial Hygiene and Safety Division of Argonne National Laboratory, Marquette University, and the Associated Midwest Universities organization. The development of the procedure was initiated and supervised by William D. Fairman of Argonne National Laboratory whose cooperation with Dr. John G. Surak of Marquette University allowed the author to extensively pursue the research leading to this report. The experimental work was intended to extend the scope of the analytical procedures of the Bioassay Group to improve the existing techniques used for the individual isolation and assay of the member of the actinide group or the periodic table. Although the actinide elements can be expected to posses similar chemical properties because of their position in the periodic table, the separations can be accomplished because of the distinct chemical differences between the elements when in their various oxidation states. Thus, the sequential separations are achieved by the establishment and maintenance of certain specified oxidation states of the elements at critical points in the procedure. All experimental work was done at the tracer concentrations level, i.e., the radioisotopes were present in amounts of less than 10 gram. The Inorganic Chemistry nomenclature used in this paper is based on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1957 Report of the Commission on the Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry (ef: "International Encyclopedia of Chemical Science", Princeton, New Jersey: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1964. p. 585 ff.) For example, U02+2 is called dioxouranium (VI) ion" instead of the commonly used "uranyl ion", Fe (NH2SO3)2 is named "iron (II) sulfamate" instead of ferrous sulfamate, while"hydroxylamine" NH20H, remains unchanged.