Isotope ratio analysis of individual sub-micrometer plutonium particles with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Esaka, Fumitaka; Magara, Masaaki; Suzuki, D.; Miyamoto, Yutaka; Lee, Chi-Gyu; Kimura, Takaumi

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2010.10.009

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…While hydride formation is less pronounced in LA-ICP-MS than in solution-based analysis, isobars such as 241 Am can only be removed by chemical separation prior to solution-based analysis. 105 Solution-based ICP-MS was applied for the determination of 234 U/ 238 U, 235 U/ 238 U and 236 U/ 238 U isotope ratios in single U particles, whereupon good agreement was found for U isotope ratios determined by solution-based ICP-MS and so-called micromanipulation-SIMS. 59 In both cases, particles were isolated from test swipes taken at nuclear facilities prior to isotope ratio analyses.…”

Section: Figures Of Merit Of Modern Icp-ms Instrumentsmentioning

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: Figures Of Merit Of Modern Icp-ms Instrumentsmentioning

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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“…Although undeclared nuclear activities using plutonium should also be revealed, only a few studies were conducted to analyze isotope ratios of individual plutonium and uraniumplutonium mixed oxide particles. [13][14][15] One of the reasons is the isobaric interference of the Pu usually coexist in a single plutonium or uranium-plutonium mixed oxide particle. In a previous study, 14 we developed an experimental technique for individual plutonium particles, which included particle manipulation, dissolution and chemical separation of plutonium and americium for subsequent isotope ratio analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).…”

Section: -2mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[13][14][15] One of the reasons is the isobaric interference of the Pu usually coexist in a single plutonium or uranium-plutonium mixed oxide particle. In a previous study, 14 we developed an experimental technique for individual plutonium particles, which included particle manipulation, dissolution and chemical separation of plutonium and americium for subsequent isotope ratio analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Consequently, we could analyze isotope ratios accurately for individual plutonium particles.…”

Section: -2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility Study of Isotope Ratio Analysis of Individual Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide Particles with SIMS and ICP-MS

Esaka¹,

Magara²,

Suzuki³

et al. 2011

Mass Spectrometry Letters

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Isotope ratio analysis of nuclear materials in individual particles is of great importance for nuclear safeguards. Although secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) are utilized for the analysis of individual uranium particles, few studies were conducted for the analysis of individual uranium-plutonium mixed oxide particles. In this study, we applied SIMS and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to the isotope ratio analysis of individual U-Pu mixed oxide particles. In the analysis of individual U-Pu particles prepared from mixed solution of uranium and plutonium standard reference materials, accurate Pu peak has a possibility to prevent accurate analysis of plutonium isotope ratios. These problems would be avoided by a combination of ICP-MS and chemical separation of uranium, plutonium and americium in individual U-Pu particles.

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“…In particular, the characterization of individual micron-sized particles in environmental samples taken at nuclear facilities is useful for revealing undeclared nuclear activities. For example, analytical methods to determine plutonium isotope ratios in individual particles have been developed with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Esaka et al, 2010;Lee et al, 2012;Miyamoto et al, 2013;Shinonaga et al, 2009;Suzuki et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%