Optimization of uranium and plutonium separations using TEVA and UTEVA cartridges for MC-ICP-MS analysis of environmental swipe samples

Rapid Determination of Uranium Isotopic Abundance from Cotton Swipes: Direct Extraction via a Planar Surface Reader and Coupling to a Microplasma Ionization Source

“…As part of its verification mission under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) utilizes environmental sampling during onsite inspections of nuclear facilities to verify declared activities and to detect the presence of undeclared nuclear activities and materials. − A typical environmental sample consists of a 4′′ × 4′′ cotton swipe that is wiped over surfaces to collect trace amounts (particulates) of nuclear material that are indicative of activities that have occurred in the facility. (While the example here deals with nuclear safeguards, the general approach of swipe sampling is common in many industrial and environmental scenarios. − ) These swipe samples are then distributed to IAEA’s international Network of Analytical Laboratories (NWAL) for analysis, with a focus on quantification and isotope ratio measurements of the uranium and plutonium on the swipe using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), multicollector thermal ionization mass spectrometry (MC-TIMS), or large geometery secondary ion mass specteormetry (LG-SIMS) . The very nature of these instruments requires their housing in laboratory facilities that may be far-removed from collection locations, posing challenges in terms of sample transport and overall time-to-results.…”

Adsorption Behavior of Pu(IV), Am(III), Cm(III), and U(VI) on Desferrioxamine B-immobilized Micropolymer and Its Applications in the Separation of Pu(IV)

“…The separation of plutonium (Pu) from typical fission products and ingredients of nuclear fuel, such as americium (Am), curium (Cm), and uranium (U) is important for disposal in the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to safely and effectively remove from highly radioactive nuclear waste. [1][2][3][4] In conventional solid-phase extraction resins for Pu, a variety of resins such as UTEVA, 5 TRU, 6 TEVA, 1 and DGA 7 are commercially available. Although these resins have numerous benefits in terms of their ease of handling, they adsorb not only Pu, but also other nuclides (e.g., U for TEVA and UTEVA and Am for TRU).…”

Improved Uranium Isotope Ratio Analysis in Liquid Sampling–Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge/Orbitrap FTMS Coupling through the Use of an External Data Acquisition System

“…ICP-MS instruments require large capital input, both in up-front costs and consumables, requiring argon flow rates of up to 14 L min –1 . While the sample preparation for ICP-MS is not as extensive as for TIMS, chemical separations are often necessary to alleviate isobaric interferences, even in the case of high resolution ( m /Δ m ≈ 10000) sector-field instruments. − An additional drawback in the case of ICP-MS is due to the relatively large volumes of sample that are required for analysis due to high sample introduction rates (>0.1 mL min –1 ) and extended analysis times. , …”