Rapid, Sensitive and Simultaneous Determination of Plutonium and Neptunium Using Ruthenium Nanoparticles Decorated Glassy Carbon Electrode

Abstract

© 2018 The Electrochemical Society. Sensitive determination of actinides is of utmost importance to maintain regular surveillance over the environment in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. The noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit high electrocatalytic activity, and could be employed for the sensitive and rapid quantifications of plutonium (Pu) and neptunium (Np) ions in the aqueous matrices. Therefore, the Ru NPs decorated glassy carbon electrode (RuNPs/GCE) was examined towards the electrocatalytic redox reaction of Pu and Np respectively. Differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) technique was used for rapid and sensitive quantification of Pu and Np. The RuNPs/GC based DPV technique could be used to determine the concentration of Pu and Np in a few minutes. Both Pu and Np gave sensitive oxidation peaks at 470mV and 840 mV respectively in 1M H2SO4versus silver/silver chloride electrode. The detection limits were found to be 1.5 μM for Pu and 6.5 μM for Np. The investigated method showed good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability.