Rapid pre-concentration of trace lanthanide cations in aqueous solution has been achieved using mercury film electrodes [1-3].  In this work, we are focusing on optimization for quantitative pre-concentration and removal of trace plutonium.  Similar to the lanthanides, effective electrodeposition of Pu requires ex situ formation of a mercury film followed by Pu deposition.  Unlike the lanthanides, however, some Pu is observed to deposit onto the mercury film even without application of potential.  Conditions necessary to optimize Pu deposition, including an initial investigation into the mechanism of adsorption onto the mercury film are in progress.  Our results to date will be presented and discussed.P. D. Schumacher, N. A Woods, J. O. Schenk, and S. B. Clark. Pre-concentration of trivalent lanthanide elements on a mercury film from aqueous solution using rotating disk electrode voltammetry.  Anal. Chem. 2010  , 82, 5663�5668.P. D. Schumacher, S. M. Miley, J. O. Schenk, and S. B. Clark. Optimization of Nd(III) pre-concentration on a rotating disk mercury film electrode in aqueous solution. Proc. Radiochim. Acta. 2011  , 1, 21-25.P. Schumacher, N. Woods, J. Doyle, J. Schenk, and S. B. Clark. Cathodic Preconcentration of f-elements on a Mercury Film Carbon Fiber Microelectrode.  Anal. Chem. 2011  , 83, 4788-4793.

Optimization of electrochemical pre-concentration of plutonium

244th National Meeting (2012)

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