Feasibility of Using Graphite Powder to Enhance Uranium Ion Intensity in Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS)

Jong-Ho Park

doi:10.5478/msl.2016.7.4.102

Abstract

Feasibility of Using Graphite Powder to Enhance Uranium Ion Intensity in Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS)

Highlights

The determination of isotope ratios in uranium (U) with high accuracy and precision is important in order to monitor activities in nuclear facilities towards nuclear safeguards, as well as to track the history and origins of nuclear materials.[1,2] Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) are widely used for isotopic measurements for these purposes, their typical applications differ.ICP-MS is typically used for bulk analysis to determine the amount and isotope ratios of nuclear materials (such as uranium and plutonium (Pu)) in environmental samples.[3]
This study explored the feasibility of using a carburization technique to enhance the ion intensity of isotopic analysis of ultra-trace levels of uranium using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS)
We present a feasibility study on the carburization of uranium samples to enhance TIMS sensitivity

Summary

Introduction

The determination of isotope ratios in uranium (U) with high accuracy and precision is important in order to monitor activities in nuclear facilities towards nuclear safeguards, as well as to track the history and origins of nuclear materials.[1,2] Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) are widely used for isotopic measurements for these purposes, their typical applications differ.ICP-MS is typically used for bulk analysis to determine the amount and isotope ratios of nuclear materials (such as uranium and plutonium (Pu)) in environmental samples.[3]. Abstract : This study explored the feasibility of using a carburization technique to enhance the ion intensity of isotopic analysis of ultra-trace levels of uranium using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Prior to fixing uranium samples on TIMS filaments, graphite powder suspended in nitric acid was deposited on rhenium filaments.

Results

Conclusion