Investigation on the fission track analysis of uranium-doped particles for the screening of safeguards environmental samples

Park, Y.J.; Song, Kiwon; Pyo, Hyung Yeol; Lee, M.H.; Jee, Kwang Yong; Kim, W.H.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2005.11.220

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Such a pre-selection is typically accomplished by ssion track (FT) analysis. [30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Fission track analysis is a highly selective and sensitive method for the identication of particles containing ssile isotopes (such as 233 U, 235 U, 239 Pu) as only those isotopes produce ssion fragments when samples are irradiated with thermal neutrons. The ssion fragments leave latent tracks in a suitable solid detector, which can be further treated to make those tracks visible under an optical microscope.…”

Section: Environmental Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards

Boulyga

Konegger-Kappel

Stephan³

et al. 2015

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

114

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Mass spectrometry is currently being implemented in a wide spectrum of research and industrial areas, such as materials science, cosmo-and geochemistry, biology and medicine, to name just a few. Research and development in nuclear safeguards is closely related to the general field of "Peace Research", representing a specific application area for analytical sciences in general and for mass spectrometry in particular. According to Albert Einstein "peace cannot be kept by force. It only can be achieved by understanding". Understanding implies a realistic estimation of potential challenges and threats, which is based on the ability to obtain timely, reliable and independent information. A particular task of international nuclear material safeguards is reducing threats that are posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons. An important part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system is the "analytical laboratory", with mass spectrometric techniques, such as thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) belonging to the most powerful methods for the analysis of nuclear material and environmental samples collected during inspections. Each of the currently applied techniques provides definite merits (e.g. precision, accuracy, timeeffectiveness, high sensitivity, spatial resolution, reduced molecular interference, etc.) for a specific safeguards related application. Thus, taking advantage of each technique helps the analyst to gain a larger quantity of safeguards-relevant information. Along with the analysis of element amounts and isotopic compositions of uranium and plutonium in nuclear material the challenging applications of mass spectrometry include isotopic analysis of micro-samples, age determination of nuclear material as well as identification and quantification of elemental and isotopic signatures of inspection samples in general.Analysis of inspection samples implies strict quality control procedures and it demands the production of suitable certified isotopic reference materials which are used as calibration standards or as quality control samples. This manuscript discusses merits and limitations of presently available mass spectrometric

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Section: Environmental Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards

Boulyga

Konegger-Kappel

Stephan³

et al. 2015

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Additionally, a check for possible material matches in the IAEA database can be made using the relative isotopic abundances. Alternatively, individual particles can be isolated from environmental swipes by examination under a microscope and then analyzed using either secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or a range of techniques used for bulk analysis. − Particle analysis is a more powerful approach because individual particles give extra information about isotope ratios, morphology, and structure that can be used to provide a comprehensive picture of the nuclear activities conducted at the facility. , Particles from swipes are routinely analyzed by SIMS, which is the technique used by the Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL) of IAEA to support nuclear safeguards. Several preparative methods to extract particles from the sampling media (swipe) are available (e.g., vacuum impactor, rubber ball, ultrasonic agitation, heptane extraction, etc.).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Uranium Isotopic Signatures in Real-Life Particles from a Nuclear Facility by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

et al. 2011

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An improved method was recently developed for the isotopic analysis of single-reference uranium oxide particles for nuclear safeguards. This method is a combination of analytical tools including in situ SEM micromanipulation, filament carburization and multiple ion counting (MIC) detection, which is found to improve sensitivity for thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) isotope ratio analysis. The question was raised whether this method could be applied for the detection of nuclear signatures in real-life particles with unknown isotopic composition. Therefore, environmental dust was collected in different locations within a nuclear facility. The screening of the samples to find the uranium particles of interest was performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) detector. The comparison of the measurement results to reference data evaluated by international safeguards authorities was of key importance for data interpretation. For the majority of investigated particles, detection of uranium isotopic signatures provided information on current and past nuclear feed operations that compared well with facility declarations.

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“…The most straightforward is scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive or wavelength-dispersive X-ray analyzing system (SEM/EDX or SEM/WDX) and software for automated detection of particles (so-called “Gun Shot Residue” software, GSR) . Secondary ion mass spectrometers (SIMS) equipped with appropriate software can also be used for the initial detection and localization of uranium-bearing particles before isotopic analysis. − Lastly, the fission track (FT) technique allows the specific detection and localization of particles which contain the highest proportions of fissile isotopes ( 235 U and/or 239 Pu). − It should be noted that autoradiography methods can also be used but are not sensitive enough for long-lived α-emitting radio-nuclides like the main uranium isotopes. Therefore, this technique can only be applied for very large particles of uranium that are highly enriched in 235 U, which are rarely present in real-life samples. , …”

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confidence: 99%

Application of Nanosecond-UV Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for the Isotopic Analysis of Single Submicrometer-Size Uranium Particles

2011

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For the first time, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was used to carry out isotopic measurement on single submicrometer-size uranium particles. The analytical procedure was applied on two particle-containing samples already analyzed in the same laboratory by established techniques for particle analysis: combination of the fission track technique with thermo-ionization mass spectrometry (FT-TIMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Particles were extracted from their initial matrix with ethanol and deposited on a polycarbonate disk where they were fixed in a layer of an organic compound (collodion). Prior to the isotopic analysis, particles were precisely located on the disk's surface by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for one sample and using the fission track technique for the other sample. Most of the particles were smaller than 1 μm, and their (235)U content was in the femtogram range. (235)U/(238)U ratios were successfully analyzed for all located particles using a nanosecond-UV laser (Cetac LSX 213 nm) coupled to a quadrupole-based ICPMS (Thermo "X-Series II"). LA-ICPMS results, although less precise and accurate (typically 10%) than the ones obtained by FT-TIMS and SIMS due to short (20-40 s), transient, and noisy signals, are in good agreement with the certified values or with the results obtained with other techniques. Thanks to good measurement efficiency (~6 × 10(-4)) and high signal/noise ratio during the analysis, LA-ICPMS can be considered a very promising technique for fast particle analysis, provided that uranium-bearing particles are fixed on the sample holder and located prior to isotope measurement.

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Investigation on the fission track analysis of uranium-doped particles for the screening of safeguards environmental samples

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards

Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards

Investigation of Uranium Isotopic Signatures in Real-Life Particles from a Nuclear Facility by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Application of Nanosecond-UV Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for the Isotopic Analysis of Single Submicrometer-Size Uranium Particles

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