Accelerator mass spectrometry of plutonium isotopes

Fifield, L.K.; Cresswell, Richard; Tada, Masayo; Ophel, T.R.; Day, John; Clacher, A.P.; King, Samantha J.; Priest, Nicholas

doi:10.1016/0168-583x(96)00287-x

Cited by 134 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Plutonium isotopes ( 239 Pu, 240 Pu, 241 Pu and 242 Pu) were measured in each fraction by ICP-MS, using 244 Pu as yield tracer [14]. Owing to the low concentrations expected and the small pore water volumes available, the concentrations of dissolved plutonium in interstitial waters were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) using the 14UD Pelletron accelerator at the Department of Nuclear Physics, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia [15]. We report here the data obtained on a subtidal core retrieved from the muddy sediments just off the Sellafield discharge point (SUB079; 54º20.026'N, 03º40.069'W).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

et al. 2005

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Abstract. An extensive diagenetic study carried out on a sediment core collected in the Cumbrian mud patch off the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, is presented. Sequential leaching data, using a thoroughly validated protocol specifically designed to prevent any resorption of the released plutonium in the course of the extraction, demonstrate that a significant proportion of the plutonium is loosely bound to sites that readily exchange with seawater, oxidise upon oxygenated water contact (reactive sulphides) or easily dissolve upon changes in pH. Such a result contradicts many previous sequential extraction studies which have reported that little of the plutonium in Irish Sea sediments is in a readily available form. The profile of dissolved plutonium in pore waters indicates an active uptake process at depth, probably linked to sulphide (Acid Volatile Sulphide) precipitation. These reactive sulphides are liable to act as source of plutonium to the overlying water if they are brought close the interface by bioturbation or in contact with oxygenated seawater by burrowing activity.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

et al. 2005

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“…38,39 AMS is a well-established method for the detection of long-lived radionuclides 40 and is an attractive alternative for plutonium measurements. AMS offers high efficiency, high rejection of interferences, low susceptibility to matrix components, and large dynamic range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plutonium measurements by accelerator mass spectrometry at LLNL

McAninch

Hamilton

Brown

et al. 2000

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B:

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Mass spectrometric methods provide sensitive, routine, and cost-effective analyses of longlived radionuclides. Here we report on the status of work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to develop a capability for actinide measurements by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to take advantage of the high potential of AMS for rejection of interferences. This work demonstrates that the LLNL AMS spectrometer is well-suited for providing high sensitivity, robust, high throughput measurements of plutonium concentrations and isotope ratios. Present backgrounds are ~2×10 7 atoms per sample for environmental samples prepared using standard alpha spectrometry protocols. Recent measurements of 239+240 Pu and 241 Pu activities and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu isotope ratios in IAEA reference materials agree well with IAEA reference values and with alpha spectrometry and recently published ICP-MS results. Ongoing upgrades of the AMS spectrometer are expected to reduce backgrounds below 1×10 6 atoms per sample while allowing simplifications of the sample preparation chemistry. These simplifications will lead to lower per-sample costs, higher throughput, faster turn around and, ultimately, to larger and more robust data sets.

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“…1 In recent years, AMS has been further developed to incorporate the measurement of additional isotopes, particularly actinides, to its capabilities. 2,3,4,5 Fifield et al 2 have demonstrated the feasibility of measuring plutonium isotopes using AMS with a limit of detection of ~10 6 atoms per sample, which is about two orders of magnitude lower than conventional counting by alpha spectrometry. AMS is also capable of distinguishing between 239 Pu and 240 Pu, thus providing additional information that can be used for source identification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%