Validation of 239,240 Pu, 238 Pu separation method using molecular recognition product AnaLig Ò Pu02 gel and extraction chromatography TRU Ò resin Silvia Dulanska ´ • Boris Remenec • L’ubomı ´r Ma ´tel • Igor Antalı ´k Received: 25 July 2011 / Published online: 10 August 2011 Ó Akade ´miai Kiado ´, Budapest, Hungary 2011 Abstract Two separation techniques for plutonium determination using AnaLig Ò Pu02 molecular recognition technology product (MRT) and extraction chromatogra- phy TRU Ò resin were tested. The methods performance was investigated by analysis of National Physical Labora- tory (NPL-Alpha-Beta High, ABH 2003, 2005) intercom- parison test samples. The results obtained for both procedures were compared in terms of activities and recoveries. Data analysis showed good agreement with the reference values. The AnaLig Ò Pu02 separation method for 239,240 Pu, 238 Pu determination was successfully validated with the same performance as the TRU Ò resin method. Keywords Plutonium separation Á AnaLig Ò Pu02 Á TRU Ò Resin Introduction Plutonium isotopes have entered the environment through nuclear weapons testing or nuclear power production as the products of neutron activation of 238 U and 235 U. 239,240 Pu, 238 Pu are alpha emitting nuclides. Alpha radionuclides are classified as the highest radiotoxic nuclides, of which the anthropogenic isotopes of plutonium are the most monitored in terms of environmental monitoring. Fast diagnosing of plutonium radionuclides requires highly sophisticated ana- lytical methods in respect of their very low concentration in samples (10 -9 –10 -12 g). Because the activity of Pu is relatively low, to achieve low detection limits it is necessary to pre-concentrate and sepa- rate plutonium nuclides for their determination. One of the most difficult tasks in radiochemistry is determination of radionuclides such as 239,240 Pu, 238 Pu in large volume sam- ples due to very low concentrations of target nuclides and high levels of interfering matrix elements. Counting of alpha nuclides requires very good spectroscopy source preparation because of low range of alpha particles and its high self absorption in solid mater. Solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques and methods of extraction chromatography are good alternative for classical liquid–liquid extraction methods. Most cited benefits are reduced analysis time, cost, labor (because SPE is faster and requires less manipulation); reduced organic solvent consumption and disposal [1]. Disadvantage is its relatively high price. Chemically bonded silica sorbents are currently the most commonly used solid phase for SPE. SPE sorbents, very selective for a specific analyte, are produced by preparing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in which the target analyte is presented as a molecular template when the polymer is formed. The resulting AnaLig Ò particles represent a significant advance over other SPE and ion exchange materials by enabling highly selective recognition and separation of specific ions and molecules even in the presence of large excesses of similar species. IBC Advanced Technologies Inc. is a world leading fine and specialty chemicals company that develops and commercializes molecular recognition technology (MRT) products and processes. IBCs products are used by customers to enhance the performance, purity and quality of their products; improve their production and analytical processes; magnify their ability to detect and remove impurities; deal cost effectively with environmental issues and, as a result, expands their markets, reduce costs and minimize pollution. AnaLig Ò gels, with predetermined S. Dulanska ´(&) Á B. Remenec Á L. Ma ´tel Á I. Antalı ´k Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynska Dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia e-mail: dulanska@fns.uniba.sk 123 J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2012) 292:97–101 DOI 10.1007/s10967-011-1370-x