Accurate measurement of uranium isotope ratios in solid samples by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Z Varga,T Wiss,M Wallenius,M Ernstberger,K Mayer,M Krachler,A Nicholl

doi:10.1039/c8ja00006a

Abstract

A multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) coupled to a 213 nm ns-laser was used to measure uranium isotope ratios (234U/238U, 235U/238U, and 236U/238U) in six solid nuclear certified reference materials (CRMs).

Highlights

Uranium (U) isotopic composition is widely measured in nuclear materials (U oxides, U nitrate or UF6) for process and quality control purposes
As the obtained peak represents a transient signal, the length of the observed peak plateau increases with the duration of laser ablation
The U isotope ratios measured by laser ablation (LA)-MC-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) show somewhat higher uncertainties than those measured by more time consuming methods such as thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) or solutionbased MC-ICP-MS

Summary

Introduction

Uranium (U) isotopic composition is widely measured in nuclear materials (U oxides, U nitrate or UF6) for process and quality control purposes. Uranium has been measured accurately and timely in the starting material, in any intermediate samples and in the end product of the fuel cycle to make up a material balance This nuclear safeguards system led by the International Atomic Energy Agency was set up to avoid the diversion of nuclear material.[1,2] if such material gets out of regulatory control (despite physical protection and nuclear safeguards) and is subsequently detected and con scated, detailed analyses are required to assess the hazard, intended use and origin of the material. The developed measurement procedure, the coupling of the LA system and the achieved accuracy and precision of U isotopic analysis are described in the paper

Materials and experimental methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions