Alpha-spectrometric analysis of uranium and thorium using solid-phase extraction for sample preparation

A method is presented here for the preparation of thin uniform samples of naturally occurring uranium and thorium which are highly suitable for α-spectrometric analysis. The solid-phase extraction procedure simultaneously achieves a complete separation of the analytes from the sample matrix and a high enrichment factor for uranium and thorium, so that the ensuing eluate is ideally suited for either electrodeposition or ICP-MS, without the need for complicated and painstaking sample preparation. In contrast to conventional liquid–liquid phase-extraction methods, no organic waste solutions are produced, and the process can be easily automated.