Development of a versatile sample preparation method and its application for rare-earth pattern and Nd isotope ratio analysis in nuclear forensics

Abstract

An improved sample preparation procedure for trace-levels of lanthanides in uranium-bearing samples was developed. The method involves a simple co-precipitation using Fe(III) carrier in ammonium carbonate medium to remove the uranium matrix. The procedure is an effective initial pre-concentration step for the subsequent extraction chromatographic separations. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by the measurement of REE pattern and 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratio in uranium ore concentrate samples.

Studies on Isotope Ratio Measurement of Cl by Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple-quad Mass Spectrometry

“…3,4,21,22 Isotope ratio measurement is also important for the production of accurate analytical results in trace element determinations by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Isotope ratio measurements have traditionally been carried out by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) 3,12,13,20,22 and by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS).…”

“…An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) has also been more and more involved in isotope ratio measurements, especially for heavy elements such as Fe, Cu, Mo, Cd, Cs, Nd, Hf, W, Tl, Pb, U, and so on. 2,[5][6][7][8][9][10][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][30][31][32][33][34] However, the subjects still remain with respect to the analysis of light elements such as H, C, N, and O as well as Si, S and Cl, that suffer from the huge background signals from H2O, air entrainment (N2, O2, CO2) and Ar plasma gas.…”

Laser bidezko ablazioaren egungo egoera eta aplikazioak

“…Gainera, azpilaginketak egitea beharrezkoa da analisi mota desberdinak egiteko eta, zoritxarrez, lagina berreskuratzea ahalbidetzen ez duten teknika analitiko suntsikorrak erabili ohi dira (laginaren mineralizazioa eta diluzioa, prezipitazio eta erauzketa, etab) [83]. LAICPMSaren erabilpenak, alabaina, nabarmen murrizten du analisian erabili beharreko lagin-kantitatea.…”

Determination of relative rare earth element distributions in very small quantities of uranium ore concentrates using femtosecond UV laser ablation – SF-ICP-MS coupling

“…The quantity of seized nuclear material is oen limited. 24 It may also be necessary to divide the seized material into several sub-samples to perform different analyses, which are oen destructive, as well as to keep a part of the seized material as an archive and/or for further analysis. Therefore, it is of great interest to be able to use as low as possible mass of the material for the analysis.…”