A simple rapid method to separate uranium, thorium, and protactinium for U-series age dating of materials

Andrew W Knight; Eric S Eitrheim; Andrew W Nelson; Steven Nelson; Michael K Schultz

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.010

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A simple rapid method to separate uranium, thorium, and protactinium for U-series age dating of materials

Journal article

Peer reviewed

A simple rapid method to separate uranium, thorium, and protactinium for U-series age dating of materials

Andrew W Knight, Eric S Eitrheim, Andrew W Nelson, Steven Nelson and Michael K Schultz

Journal of environmental radioactivity, Vol.134, pp.66-74

08/2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.010

PMCID: PMC5538884

PMID: 24681438

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Abstract

Uranium-series dating techniques require the isolation of radionuclides in high yields and in fractions free of impurities. Within this context, we describe a novel-rapid method for the separation and purification of U, Th, and Pa. The method takes advantage of differences in the chemistry of U, Th, and Pa, utilizing a commercially-available extraction chromatographic resin (TEVA) and standard reagents. The elution behavior of U, Th, and Pa were optimized using liquid scintillation counting techniques and fractional purity was evaluated by alpha-spectrometry. The overall method was further assessed by isotope dilution alpha-spectrometry for the preliminary age determination of an ancient carbonate sample obtained from the Lake Bonneville site in western Utah (United States). Preliminary evaluations of the method produced elemental purity of greater than 99.99% and radiochemical recoveries exceeding 90% for U and Th and 85% for Pa. Excellent purity and yields (76% for U, 96% for Th and 55% for Pa) were also obtained for the analysis of the carbonate samples and the preliminary Pa and Th ages of about 39,000 years before present are consistent with (super 14) C-derived age of the material. Abstract Copyright (2014) Elsevier, B.V.

absolute age

actinides

C-14

carbon

carbonates

chromatograms

crystal chemistry

dates

geochemistry

Geochronology

instruments

isotopes

laboratory studies

Lake Bonneville

mass spectra

metals

methods

protactinium

radioactive isotopes

radioactivity

safety

sample preparation

samples

separation

spectra

Th-230

thorium

uranium

Details

Title: Subtitle: A simple rapid method to separate uranium, thorium, and protactinium for U-series age dating of materials
Creators: Andrew W Knight - University of Iowa, Department of Chemistry Iowa City, IA USA United States
Eric S Eitrheim
Andrew W Nelson
Steven Nelson
Michael K Schultz
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of environmental radioactivity, Vol.134, pp.66-74
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.010
PMID: 24681438
PMCID: PMC5538884
ISSN: 0265-931X
eISSN: 1879-1700
Language: English
Date published: 08/2014
Academic Unit: Radiology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Radiation Oncology
Record Identifier: 9984216721702771

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