Comparison of techniques to localise U-bearing particles in environmental samples

Diacre, Aurélie; Fichet, Pascal; Sardini, Paul; Donnard, Jérôme; Fauré, Anne-Laure; Marie, Olivier; Shozugawa, Katsumi; Susset, Michaël; Hori, Mayumi; Takizawa, Tsutomu; Pointurier, Fabien; Evrard, Olivier

doi:10.1007/s10967-022-08229-w

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Fission fragments are emitted by 235 U and 239 Pu during fission reaction, they impacted into the Lexan® disks and created surface damages [39]. Chemical etching of the "FT disk" using KOH solution at 80°C during 15 min enabled to make visible the sea urchin-shaped fission track clusters characteristic of the presence of a fissile nuclide-bearing particle (as described by Diacre et a l. [40]). Thanks to appropriate landmarks on both deposition and FT disks, the particles that produced fission track clusters were localized.…”

Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 98%

240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio measurements in micrometric Pu and MOX particles using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Diacre

Anne-Laure

Cornaton

et al. 2023

Talanta

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Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 98%

240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio measurements in micrometric Pu and MOX particles using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Diacre

Anne-Laure

Cornaton

et al. 2023

Talanta

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“…Previous studies have shown that the BeaQuant system is able to spatially distinguish between two individual beta-emitting radioactive particles in simplistic standard samples 35 . However, the BeaQuant can also detect both alpha and beta emissions, and perform spectrometry between alpha- and beta-emitters 38 , and within alpha-emitters 39 ; it is thus possible to obtain autoradiographs of different radionuclides in the same acquisition, if the energy difference between them is substantial. This capability could provide additional information on radionuclides present in particles in complex samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting radioactive particles in complex environmental samples using real-time autoradiography

Ang,

Bongrand,

Duval

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Radioactive particles often contain very high radioactivity concentrations and are widespread. They pose a potential risk to human health and the environment. Their detection, quantification, and characterization are crucial if we are to understand their impact. Here, we present the use of a real-time autoradiography gaseous detector (using parallel ionization multiplier) to expedite and improve the accuracy of radioactive particle screening in complex environmental samples. First, standard particles were used to assess the detector capabilities (spatial resolution, spectrometry, and artefact contributions), then, we applied the technique to more complex and environmentally relevant samples. The real-time autoradiography technique provides data with a spatial resolution (≲100 µm) suitable for particle analysis in complex samples. Further, it can differentiate between particles predominantly emitting alpha and beta radiation. Here, the technique is applied to radioactive cesium-rich microparticles collected from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear exclusion zone, showing their accurate detection, and demonstrating the viability of real-time autoradiography in environmental scenarios. Indeed, for more complex samples (radioactive particles in a less radioactive heterogeneous background mix of minerals), the technique permits relatively high selectivity for radioactive particle screening (up to 61.2% success rate) with low false positive percentages (~ 1%).

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“…Various interesting observations were made lately, for example nanoparticulate Pu inclusions in CsMP [34]. Various methods have been tested to localize radioactive particles, especially uranium-bearing particles, including α-tracks [35], fission tracks, imaging plates, and real time autoradiography [36,37] or scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in backscattered electrons mode [38]. In this study, we investigated grass from Fukushima prefecture by autoradiography for possible presence of microparticles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification, isolation, and characterization of a novel type of Fukushima-derived microparticle

Macsik

Hudston²,

Wurth³

et al. 2022

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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In the course of the Fukushima nuclear accident, radionuclides were released in various forms, including so-called radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMP). So far, four types of CsMP were described: Type A is smaller in size (< 10 μm), Types B, C, and D are larger (> 100 μm). In this work, we present a novel type of CsMP (proclaimed Type E). Three particles of Type E were extracted from a contaminated blade of grass that was sampled 1.5 km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in late 2011. They were located using autoradiography, isolated using an optical microscope and micromanipulator, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and low-level gamma-ray spectrometry. Type E CsMPs are 10–20 μm in size and exhibit an unusually low and barely detectable 137Cs activity of only ≤ 10 mBq per particle. Their brittle and fragile character may indicate a high surface tension.

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Comparison of techniques to localise U-bearing particles in environmental samples

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio measurements in micrometric Pu and MOX particles using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio measurements in micrometric Pu and MOX particles using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Detecting radioactive particles in complex environmental samples using real-time autoradiography

Identification, isolation, and characterization of a novel type of Fukushima-derived microparticle

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