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Determination Of 237np In Bioassay Fecal Samples, Bettylou M. Wahl

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²³⁷Np, a long-lived alpha-emitting actinide, is present in the environment due to releases from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, reactor accidents, and nuclear reprocessing plants. The determination of long-lived actinides, such as neptunium, is essential for worker monitoring and environmental control. In bioassay and environmental samples, a radiochemical separation is necessary before measurement in order to eliminate any inferences that may occur in a mixture of actinides. In this paper, a method for determining ²³⁷Np in fecal samples using TEVA resin is investigated. Using ²³⁹Pu as a tracer, tetravalent plutonium and neptunium were successfully separated from other actinides. …