ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF 237NP IN ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES

To determine the 237 Np concentration originating from global fallout in the environment, samples were collected from Guangxi, south of China, and measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) at CIRCE. Serials standard samples and environment samples were prepared and measured using 242 Pu as a tracer. The result indicates that the detection limit of 237 Np as low as 10 –15 g can be obtained. The concentration of 237 Np in the environmental samples is less than 49.09 pg/kg (i.e. 1.280 mBq/kg), and the most probable value of 237 Np is approximately 20 pg/kg (i.e. 0.53 mBq/kg).