1
|
Liu Y, Xiao G, Jones RL. High-Throughput Determination of Ultratrace Actinides in Urine by In-Line Extraction Chromatography Combined with Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (EC-ICP-MS). Anal Chem 2022; 94:18042-18049. [PMID: 36519576 PMCID: PMC9969411 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Determining actinides in urine is vital for occupational exposure monitoring and radiological emergency response because of the toxicity and radiological dose effects of actinides on human health. Traditional radiochemistry analytical methods used to determine actinide concentrations in urine are time-consuming (sample analysis takes several days) and are hindered by a variety of technical and instrumentation-related obstacles. A high-throughput, fully automated, precise, and accurate in-line method was developed for determining five actinides (241Am, 239Pu, 237Np, 232Th, and 238U) at ng/L levels in urine using extraction chromatography combined with quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (EC-ICP-MS). In this method, the five actinides were successfully separated with the required sensitivity, peak shape, and resolution using a simplified single Eichrom TRU column with a Dionex ICS-5000 system. The separated actinides were subsequently injected into an in-line PerkinElmer (PE) NexION 300D ICP-MS for quantitative determination. The sample-to-sample run time was 23 min for automatic chemical separation and quantification using only 0.5 mL of urine. The limits of detection (LOD) obtained using this method were 0.015, 0.022, 0.039, 4.5, and 2.4 ng/L for 241Am, 239Pu, 237Np, 232Th, and 238U, respectively. The method routinely had a chemical yield of >84% as well as a linearity (R2) coefficient of ≥0.999 for the calibrators. The method proved to be rapid, reliable, and effective for actinide quantification in urine and therefore is appropriate for radiological emergency response incidents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhong Liu
- Battelle, Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201, USA
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Ge Xiao
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Robert L. Jones
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu Y, Xiao G, Jones RL. Rapid determination of thorium in urine by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022; 331:3957-3964. [PMID: 36744001 PMCID: PMC9891388 DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08408-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has proven to be an excellent analytical technique with high sensitivity for detecting low levels of long-lived radionuclides, such as thorium. However, the high-sensitivity technique increases the memory effect of thorium. This study developed a rapid, high-throughput, simple method for measuring thorium in urine using quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). Replacing the commonly used hazardous hydrofluoric acid with a rinse solution of 0.025 mol/L oxalic acid and 5% (v/v) nitric acid eliminated the memory effect of thorium. 233U was used as internal standard in this study. The limit of detection (LOD) for thorium in this study is 0.77 ng/L, which is comparable to those of reported methods using more sophisticated and expensive sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). This proposed method can determine thorium concentrations in urine in both occupationally exposed workers and populations that live in areas with high background levels of thorium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhong Liu
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201, USA
- Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Ge Xiao
- Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Robert L Jones
- Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, Division of the Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS S110-5, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hansson E, Pettersson HBL, Yusuf I, Roos P, Lindahl P, Eriksson M. Particle Size-dependent Dissolution of Uranium Aerosols in Simulated Lung Fluid: A Case Study in a Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant. HEALTH PHYSICS 2022; 123:11-27. [PMID: 35522165 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Inhalation exposure to uranium aerosols can be a concern in nuclear fuel fabrication. The ICRP provides default absorption parameters for various uranium compounds but also recommends determination of material-specific absorption parameters to improve dose calculations for individuals exposed to airborne radioactivity. Aerosol particle size influences internal dosimetry calculations in two potentially significant ways: the efficiency of particle deposition in the various regions of the respiratory tract is dependent on aerodynamic particle size, and the dissolution rate of deposited materials can vary according to particle size, shape, and porosity because smaller particles tend to have higher surface-to-volume ratios than larger particles. However, the ICRP model assumes that deposited particles of a given material dissolve at the same rate regardless of size and that uptake to blood of dissolved material normally occurs instantaneously in all parts of the lung (except the anterior portion of the nasal region, where zero absorption is assumed). In the present work, the effect of particle size on dissolution in simulated lung fluid was studied for uranium aerosols collected at the plant, and its influence on internal dosimetry calculations was evaluated. Size fractionated uranium aerosols were sampled at a nuclear fuel fabrication plant using portable cascade impactors. Absorption parameters, describing dissolution of material according to the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model, were determined in vitro for different size fractions using simulated lung fluid. Samples were collected at 16 time-points over a 100-d period. Uranium content of samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry. In addition, supplementary experiments to study the effect of pH drift and uranium adsorption on filter holders were conducted as they could potentially influence the derived absorption parameters. The undissolved fraction over time was observed to vary with impaction stage cut-point at the four main workshops at the plant. A larger fraction of the particle activity tended to dissolve for small cut-points, but exceptions were noted. Absorption parameters (rapid fraction, rapid rate, and slow rate), derived from the undissolved fraction over time, were generally in fair agreement with the ICRP default recommendations for uranium compounds. Differences in absorption parameters were noted across the four main workshops at the plant (i.e., where the aerosol characteristics are expected to vary). The pelletizing workshop was associated with the most insoluble material and the conversion workshop with the most soluble material. The correlation between derived lung absorption parameters and aerodynamic particle size (impactor stage cut-point) was weak. For example, the mean absorption parameters derived from impaction stages with low (taken to be <5 μm) and large (≥5 μm) cut-points did not differ significantly. Drift of pH and adsorption on filter holders appeared to be of secondary importance, but it was found that particle leakage can occur. Undissolved fractions and to some degree derived lung absorption parameters were observed to vary depending on the aerodynamic size fraction studied, suggesting that size fractionation (e.g., using cascade impactors) is appropriate prior to conducting in vitro dissolution rate experiments. The 0.01-0.02 μm and 1-2 μm size ranges are of particular interest as they correspond to alveolar deposition maxima in the Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM). In the present work, however, the dependency on aerodynamic size appeared to be of minor importance, but it cannot be ruled out that particle bounce obscured the results for late impaction stages. In addition, it was noted that the time over which simulated lung fluid samples are collected (100 d in our case) influences the curve-fitting procedure used to determine the lung absorption parameters, in particular the slow rate that increased if fewer samples were considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Håkan B L Pettersson
- Department of Medical Radiation Physics, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ibtisam Yusuf
- Department of Medical Radiation Physics, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Roos
- European Spallation Source ERIC, P.O Box 176, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Patric Lindahl
- Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, 17116 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Eriksson
- Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Bränslegatan 1, 72136 Västerås, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Direct determination of uranium in sintered deeply depleted uranium oxide pellets by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06869-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
5
|
Jiang M, Xiao X, He B, Liu Y, Hu N, Su C, Li Z, Liao L. A europium (III) complex-based surface fluorescence sensor for the determination of uranium (VI). J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06566-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
6
|
Dhara S, Misra N. Elemental characterization of nuclear materials using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
7
|
Kuchkin A, Stebelkov V, Zhizhin K, von Gostomski CL, Kardinal C, Tan AHJ, Pong BK, Loi E, Keegan E, Kristo MJ, Totland M, Dimayuga I, Wallenius M. Contribution of bulk mass spectrometry isotopic analysis to characterization of materials in the framework of CMX-4. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-017-5681-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
8
|
Wang Z, Lin J, Li S, Guo Q, Huang W, Wen W, Dan G, Tan Z. Rapid method for accurate determination of actinides (U, Th, Pu and Am) in water samples for emergency response. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-017-5640-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
9
|
Gross actinide preconcentration using phosphonate-based ligand and cloud point extraction. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
10
|
Ivanova B, Spiteller M. Adsorption of uranium composites onto saltrock oxides - experimental and theoretical study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 135:75-83. [PMID: 24794043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2013] [Revised: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The study encompassed experimental mass spectrometric and theoretical quantum chemical studies on adsorption of uranium species in different oxidation states of the metal ion, and oxides of UxOy(n+) type, where x = 1 or 3, y = 2 or 8, and n = 0, 1 or 2 onto nanosize-particles of saltrock oxides MO (M = Mg(II), Ca(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Sr(II) or Ba(II)), M2Oy (M = Au(III) or Ag(I), y = 3 or 1) silicates 3Al2O3.2SiO2, natural kaolinite (Al2O2·2SiO2·2H2O), illite (K0.78Ca0.02Na0.02(Mg0.34Al1.69Fe(III)0.02)[Si3.35Al0.65]O10(OH)2·nH2O), CaSiO3, 3MgO·4SiO2,H2O, and M(1)M(2)(SiO4)X2 (M(1) = M(2) = Al or M(1) = K, M(2) = Al, X = F or Cl), respectively. The UV-MALDI-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was utilized in solid-state and semi-liquid colloidal state, involving the laser ablation at λex = 337.2 nm. The theoretical modeling and experimental design was based on chemical-, physico-chemical, physical and biological processes involving uranium species under environmental conditions. Therefore, the results reported are crucial for quality control and monitoring programs for assessment of radionuclide migration. They impact significantly the methodology for evaluation of human health risk from radioactive contamination. The study has importance for understanding the coordination and red-ox chemistry of uranium compounds as well. Due to the double nature of uranium between rare element and superconductivity like materials as well as variety of oxidation states ∈ (+1)-(+6), the there remain challenging areas for theoretical and experimental research, which are of significant importance for management of nuclear fuel cycles and waste storage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bojidarka Ivanova
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44221 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
| | - Michael Spiteller
- Lehrstuhl für Analytische Chemie, Institut für Umweltforschung, Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Universität Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44221 Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dai X, Kramer-Tremblay S. Five-Column Chromatography Separation for Simultaneous Determination of Hard-to-Detect Radionuclides in Water and Swipe Samples. Anal Chem 2014; 86:5441-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ac500572g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongxin Dai
- Chalk River Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River, Ontario K0J
1J0, Canada
| | - Sheila Kramer-Tremblay
- Chalk River Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River, Ontario K0J
1J0, Canada
| |
Collapse
|