The use of LA-SF-ICP-MS for nuclear forensics purposes: uranium isotope ratio analysis

Marin, Rafael C.; Sarkis, J.E.S.; Nascimento, Marcos Roberto Lopes do

doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1980-y

Cited by 38 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…[85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92] and single particles of interest for nuclear safeguards. 44,65,[93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100] The use of a focused laser beam allows us to analyze individual particles as well as particle agglomerates 95 for their (spatially resolved) isotopic and/or elemental information.…”

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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“…Uncertainties were better that 1.4% and 6% (2s) for the 235 U/ 238 U and 236 U/ 238 U ratios, respectively. A similar study of direct measurement of uranium isotopes in enriched uranium pellets and rods was undertaken by Marin et al, 150 using a 266 nm Nd:YAG LA-SF-ICP-MS. A combined precision and accuracy of <2% RSD (s) for the 235 U/ 238 U ratio was achieved. Each study dened a reproducibility window between 0.5% and 2% as the state of the art for 235 U/ 238 U determinations on individual particles, setting the analytical benchmark for nuclear forensic methods in the future.…”

Section: Nuclear Forensicsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Atomic spectrometry updates: Review of advances in atomic spectrometry and related techniques

Evans

Pisonero

Smith

et al. 2014

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

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“…Several mass bias correction procedures were evaluated and a combination of thallium normalization and standard bracketing was optimal. Precisions were 0.0039, 0.0014 and 0.0012% and accuracies (in parts per thousand) were 0.001, 0.001 and 0.004 for 208 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 and 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, respectively for the analysis of NIST SRM 981. The other paper 77 also used an acid digestion but then derivatized the Pb using tetraethylborate forming tetraethyl lead.…”

Section: Fuels and Lubricantsmentioning

confidence: 96%