Molybdenum isotope fractionation in uranium oxides and during key processes of the nuclear fuel cycle: Towards a new nuclear forensic tool

Migeon, Valérie; Fitoussi, Caroline; Pili, Éric; Bourdon, Bernard

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2020.03.046

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 64 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This allows direct attribution or in the least, ruling out specific material sources. In addition to utilising the U isotopic composition as a forensic indicator, other distinguishing material characteristics may include, the major molecular species, isotopic composition of S, O, Sr, Nd, Mo and Pb, elemental and anionic impurities, rare earth element pattern and concentrations (Han et al 2013;Keegan et al 2014;Rolison et al 2019;Migeon et al 2020). This equates to approximately 50 discrete signature variables.…”

Section: Implications For Nuclear Forensicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uranium isotope variation within vein-type uranium ore deposits

Keatley

Dunne

Martin

et al. 2021

Applied Geochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Implications For Nuclear Forensicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uranium isotope variation within vein-type uranium ore deposits

Keatley

Dunne

Martin

et al. 2021

Applied Geochemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Thus, they concluded that both variation in the 98 Mo composition of uranium ore and fractionation during the production of UOCs contribute to the overall variation of 98 Mo in UOCs. Migeon et al also investigated a set of UOCs using MC-ICP-MS. 49 They observed that UOCs produced from uranium ore of magmatic origin exhibited a different, higher 98 Mo composition compared to UOCs produced from uranium ores of sedimentary origin. They also observed that fractionation of molybdenum can occur during UOC production and noted that shifts in the 98 Mo composition during UOC production are likely affected by several factors of the production process, for example, the chemicals used and pH of the solutions.…”

Section: Rolison Et Al and Migeon Et Al Recently Investigated The Mol...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Uocsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, recent research has examined the morphology of various uranium oxides, with a focus on discerning process history or process conditions for a particular sample of material. − , One outcome of these efforts was a lexicon to standardize descriptions of material images for nuclear forensics, indicating a likely increasing role for morphology within nuclear forensics . Recent research has also investigated elemental and chemical impurities present in process samples of uranium compounds, also with a focus of discerning process history as well as the origin of the uranium. − ,,,− For example, the concentrations of rare-earth elements (REEs) have been found to be potentially useful for identifying the origin of UOCs . Other research has focused on understanding the degradation of uranium compounds, particularly under environmental conditions. − These efforts are important for nuclear forensics investigations of aged materials or samples exposed to the environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Progress in Uranium Chemistry: Driving Advances in Front-End Nuclear Fuel Cycle Forensics

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle encompasses several chemical and physical processes used to acquire and prepare uranium for use in a nuclear reactor. These same processes can also be used for weapons or nefarious purposes, necessitating the need for technical means to help detect, investigate, and prevent the nefarious use of nuclear material and nuclear fuel cycle technology. Over the past decade, a significant research effort has investigated uranium compounds associated with the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium ore concentrates (UOCs), UF 4 , UF 6 , and UO 2 F 2 . These efforts have furthered uranium chemistry with an aim to expand and improve the field of nuclear forensics. Focus has been given to the morphology of various uranium compounds, trace elemental and chemical impurities in process samples of uranium compounds, the degradation of uranium compounds, particularly under environmental conditions, and the development of improved or new techniques for analysis of uranium compounds. Overall, this research effort has identified relevant chemical and physical characteristics of uranium compounds that can be used to help discern the origin, process history, and postproduction history for a sample of uranium material. This effort has also identified analytical techniques that could be brought to bear for nuclear forensics purposes. Continued research into these uranium compounds should yield additional relevant chemical and physical characteristics and analytical approaches to further advance front-end nuclear fuel cycle forensics capabilities.

show abstract