Production and Characterization of Plutonium Dioxide Particles as a Quality Control Material for Safeguards Purposes

Abstract

Plutonium (Pu) dioxide particles were produced from certified reference material (CRM) 136 solution (CRM 136-plutonium isotopic standard, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne, IL, U.S.A., 1987) using an atomizer system on December 3, 2009 after chemical separation of americium (Am) on October 27, 2009. The highest density of the size distribution of the particles obtained from 312 particles on a selected impactor stage was in the range of 0.7-0.8 μm. The flattening degree of 312 particles was also estimated. The isotopic composition of Pu and uranium (U) and the amount of Am were estimated by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), and α-spectrometry. Within uncertainties the isotopic composition of the produced particles is in agreement with the expected values, which were derived from the decay correction of the Pu isotopes in the CRM 136. The elemental ratio of Am to Pu in the produced particles was determined on the 317th and 674th day after Am separation, and the residual amount of Am in the solution was estimated. The analytical results of single particles by micro-Raman-scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) indicate that the produced particles are Pu dioxide. Our initial attempts to measure the density of two single particles gave results with a spread value accompanied by a large uncertainty.

Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials

“…Plutonium dioxide particles may also be used as a quality control measure for safeguards purposes. Shinonaga et al 209 rst used a chemical separation of americium and then produced such particles using an atomizer system on the New Brunswick Laboratory material CRM-136 solution. The highest density of the size distribution of 312 particles on a selected impactor stage was 0.7 to 0.8 mm.…”

Method for detecting and characterising actinide-bearing micro-particles in soils and sediment of the Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

“…9). Unfortunately, the very high uranium hydride formation rate ( UH + / U + = [12,38] or Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) [39]. Fig.…”

Geochemical association of Pu and Am in selected host-phases of contaminated soils from the UK and their susceptibility to chemical and microbiological leaching

“…Highly insoluble Pu oxides, such as PuO 2 , accumulate in soils and sediments (Choppin, 2007) and recent work in size characterization of PuO 2 suggests such particles predominantly exist in the sub mm range (Shinonaga et al, 2012). Although it is difficult to draw many conclusions from the autoradiography and ESEM results regarding the exact form of Pu in the Aldermaston soils, its high recalcitrance is clearly highlighted by the sequential extraction data.…”