Vertical distribution of 238Pu, 239(40)Pu, 241Am, 90Sr and 137Cs in Austrian soil profiles

Abstract

The occurrence of 238Pu, 239(40) Pu, 241Am, 90Sr and 137Cs in the region of Nassfeld (Salzburg, Austria) is discussed at four different locations by evaluating a depth profile for each radionuclide. Furthermore, the plutonium separated from the soil samples was measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) to get information on the isotope ratio 240Pu/239Pu. The radiochemical procedure consisted of a Pu separation step from Am and Sr by anion exchange in 8 M HNO3 after oxidation state adjustment to Pu(IV). Am and Sr were coprecipitated with calcium oxalate. Am was separated from Sr by extraction chromatography using TRU-resin. The Sr separation was performed also by extraction chromatography using Sr-resin; after coprecipitation as oxalate, 90Sr was measured in a gas proportional counter. For the determination of 239(40)Pu and 241Am by «-spectrometry thin sources were prepared by microprecipitation with NdF3. With the respective Pu isotope ratios, it was possible to identify the global fallout as source of the contamination. This was confirmed by the ratio 241Am/239(40)Pu. From the activity ratio 90SrZ137Cs, it could be shown that most of these radionuclides stem from the reactor accident in Chernobyl.