Abstract
Methods for trace analysis of the 5f actinide elements are reviewed. Emphasis is on the non-radioactive methods of analysis such as absorption and laser induced spectroscopies, precipitation and/or sorption, ion exchange and solvent extraction. Particular attention is given to methods which allow measurement of the relative concentrations of the different oxidation states of a cation such as plutonium as they occur in nature. Comparisons are given of the sensitivities of these methods with that of traditional radioactivity counting.
