Fractionation of uranium and other trace elements in soil samples collected in selected regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

To determine the specific chemical forms of trace elements and to study of their mobility/availability in soil, samples collected in the Republic of Kazakhstan were analysed using the revised BCR protocol. A study was made with dependence of the mobility of different elements of interest on digestion procedures for collected soil samples and Standard Reference Material. The concentrations of the analysed elements (Sc, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Y, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Th, U) were measured using ICP-MS in each sequential extraction step (exchangeable, reducible, oxidation and residual) and after a total digestion procedure.