An optimised and robust method for the determination of uranium and plutonium in aqueous samples

The paper describes a method for the separation of uranium and plutonium isotopes using anion exchange resin and UTEVA ™ resin in stacked sequential columns for routine analysis of river water and liquid effluent samples. The optimisation of the UTEVA ™ column for separation of U is described and compared with the conventional anion exchange technique for the separation of U from Fe. The stacked anion exchange and UTEVA ™ column configuration facilitates a more rapid and efficient separation of Pu and U and also reduces the quantity of reagents required for the separation.