Assessment of Metaborate Fusion for the Rapid Dissolution of Solid Samples: Suitability with the Northstar ARSIIe
Abstract
The original goal of this project was to develop a rapid dissolution methodology for solid environmental samples and a crude pre-concentration of actinides (uranium, plutonium, thorium, americum) following the dissolution process to enable compatibility with the Automated Radionuclide Separation System-Environmental (ARSIIe) from Northstar Engineered Technologies. It was later required by the client during a subsequent meeting (August 2012, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) that strontium be included in the list of analytes for which the sample preparation methodology should be applicable. This project was accomplished by executing a rigorous research and development strategy for soil dissolution that focuses on field deployment, efficiency, and the resulting dissolution being compatible with radiochemical separation performed by the ARSIIe using compatible designed protocols (necessary for controls and reproducibility). It was required by the client that the method of dissolution be simple (field-deployable), reliable, complete, and contained in as small a volume as possible (10- to 20-mL target). In addition, up to 1 gram of solid environmental samples needed to be solubilized through a lithium metaborate fusion technique, using the M4 Fluxer unit from Corporation Scientifique Claisse.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1017464
Entities
People
- Annie Michaud
- Dominic Lariviere