Quantitation of protactinium, ²³¹Pa in abyssal carbonate

van Calsteren, Peter and Thomas, Louise (2012). Quantitation of protactinium, ²³¹Pa in abyssal carbonate. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 27(6) pp. 952–956.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C2JA30026E

Abstract

Quantitation of protactinium, ²³¹Pa in abyssal carbonates at ~10^–12 g g^–1 levels, presents certain challenges because it is the only isotope of this element that is present in the natural environment and its half-life of 32 800 y is too long for useful measurement using alpha-particle or gamma-ray spectroscopy. However, because it is an isotope in the ²³⁵U decay chain, closely linked to the ²³⁸U decay chain, quantitation can be achieved relative to a carbonate standard in secular radioactive equilibrium. The ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁴U, ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th isotopes in the carbonate standard are determined with a mixed ²³⁶U-²²⁹Th spike using isotope dilution protocols and a Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer.

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