Ultra-trace analysis of plutonium by thermal ionization mass spectrometry with a continuous heating technique without chemical separation.

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) with a continuous heating technique is known as an effective method for measuring the isotope ratio in trace amounts of uranium. In this study, the analytical performance of thermal ionization mass spectrometry with a continuous heating technique was investigated using a standard plutonium solution (SRM 947). The influence of the heating rate of the evaporation filament on the precision and accuracy of the isotope ratios was examined using a plutonium solution sample at the fg level. Changing the heating rate of the evaporation filament on samples ranging from 0.1fg to 1000fg revealed that the influence of the heating rate on the precision and accuracy of the isotope ratios was slight around the heating rate range of 100-250mA/min. All of the isotope ratios of plutonium (SRM 947), (238)Pu/(239)Pu, (240)Pu/(239)Pu, (241)Pu/(239)Pu and (242)Pu/(239)Pu, were measured down to sample amounts of 70fg. The ratio of (240)Pu/(239)Pu was measured down to a sample amount of 0.1fg, which corresponds to a PuO2 particle with a diameter of 0.2µm. Moreover, the signals of (239)Pu could be detected with a sample amount of 0.03fg, which corresponds to the detection limit of (239)Pu of 0.006fg as estimated by the 3-sigma criterion. (238)Pu and (238)U were clearly distinguished owing to the difference in the evaporation temperature between (238)Pu and (238)U. In addition, (241)Pu and (241)Am formed by the decay of (241)Pu can be discriminated owing to the difference in the evaporation temperature. As a result, the ratios of (238)Pu/(239)Pu and (241)Pu/(239)Pu as well as (240)Pu/(239)Pu and (242)Pu/(239)Pu in plutonium samples could be measured by TIMS with a continuous heating technique and without any chemical separation processes.

Quantitative analysis of uranium in aqueous solutions using a semiconductor laser-based spectroscopic method.

A simple analytical method based on the simultaneous measurement of the luminescence of hexavalent uranium ions (U(VI)) and the Raman scattering of water, was investigated for determining the concentration of U(VI) in aqueous solutions. Both spectra were measured using a cw semiconductor laser beam at a center wavelength of 405 nm. The empirical calibration curve for the quantitative analysis of U(VI) was obtained by measuring the ratio of the luminescence intensity of U(VI) at 519 nm to the Raman scattering intensity of water at 469 nm. The limit of detection (LOD) in the parts per billion range and a dynamic range from the LOD up to several hundred parts per million were achieved. The concentration of uranium in groundwater determined by this method is in good agreement with the results determined by kinetic phosphorescence analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Determination of plutonium content in high burnup pressurized water reactor fuel samples and its use for isotope correlations for isotopic composition of plutonium.

The content of plutonium isotopes in high burnup pressurized water reactor fuel samples was examined using both alpha spectrometry and mass spectrometry after anion exchange separation. The measured values were compared with results calculated by the ORIGEN-2 code. On average, the ratios (m/c) of the measured values (m) over the calculated values (c) were 1.22±0.16 for (238)Pu, 1.02±0.14 for (239)Pu, 1.08±0.06 for (240)Pu, 1.06±0.16 for (241)Pu, and 1.13±0.08 for (242)Pu. Using the Pu data obtained in this work, correlations were derived between the alpha activity ratios of (238)Pu/((239)Pu+(240)Pu), the alpha specific activities of Pu, and the atom % abundances of the Pu isotopes. Using these correlations, the atom % abundances of the plutonium isotopes in the target samples were calculated. These calculated results agreed within a range from 2 to 8% of the experimentally derived values according to the isotopes of plutonium.

Thickness measurement of organic films using Compton scattering of characteristic X-rays.

An X-ray scattering method is presented for determining the thickness of an organic film placed on a steel substrate. The strong peaks of characteristic X-rays are taken as an advantage to measure the intensity of backscattered photons. It is shown that the intensity of Compton scattering of characteristic X-rays is proportional to film thickness, up to the thickness of 250 µm of acrylic adhesive layers. In addition, the measurement time was 300 ms, providing a simple and convenient method for on-line for thickness monitoring.

Temperature dependence of fluorescence for EuCl3 in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt.

The fluorescence of EuCl(3) in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt according to temperature changes was investigated, and the spontaneous partial reduction of Eu(3+) to Eu(2+) at high temperature was confirmed by the fluorescence results. The fluorescence decreases when the temperature increases, and this was examined in detail. The studies of fluorescence provided information regarding the chemical and physical behavior of europium ions in the molten salt according to the temperature changes. It is applicable for monitoring species and concentrations and estimating the approximate chemical structure of the ions in molten salts.

Isotope correlations for determining the isotopic composition of plutonium in high burnup pressurized water reactor (PWR) samples.

Correlations among the alpha activity ratios of (238)Pu/((239)Pu+(240)Pu), the alpha specific activities of Pu and the atom % abundances of Pu isotopes were derived for the plutonium samples obtained from high burnup fuel samples from pressurized water reactors. Using the alpha activity ratios of (238)Pu/((239)Pu+(240)Pu) determined by alpha spectrometry, the alpha specific activities of Pu as well as the atom % abundances of the plutonium isotopes in the unknown samples were calculated without depending on mass spectrometry. The calculated alpha specific activities of Pu agreed with those determined by experiment within 2%, and the atom % abundances of the Pu isotopes agreed within 4% for (238)Pu, 5% for (239)Pu, 7% for (240)Pu and 5% for (242)Pu, respectively. In addition, an attempt was made to elucidate a correlation between the fuel burnup and the alpha activity ratio of (238)Pu/((239)Pu+(240)Pu) at a range of the burnup from 35.5 to 62.9 GWd/MtU.

Precipitation characteristics of uranyl ions at different pHs depending on the presence of carbonate ions and hydrogen peroxide.

This work studied the dissolution of uranium dioxide and precipitation characteristics of uranyl ions in alkaline and acidic solutions depending on the presence of carbonate ions and H2O2 in the solutions at different pHs controlled by adding HNO3 or NaOH in the solution. The chemical structures of the precipitates generated in different conditions were evaluated and compared by using XRD, SEM, TG-DT, and IR analyses together. The sizes and forms of the precipitates in the solutions were evaluated, as well. The uranyl ions were precipitated in the various forms, depending on the solution pH and the presences of hydrogen peroxide and carbonate ions in the solution. In a 0.5 M Na2CO3 solution with H2O2, where the uranyl ions formed mixed uranyl peroxy-carbonato complexes, the uranyl ions were precipitated as a uranium peroxide of UO4(H20)4 at pH 3-4, and precipitated as a clarkeite of Na2U2Ox(OH)y(H2O)z above pH 13. In the same carbonate solution without H2O2, where the uranyl ions formed uranyl tris-carbonato complex, the uranyl ions were observed to be precipitated as a different form of clarkeite above pH 13. The precipitate of uranyl ions in a nitrate solution without carbonate ions and H2O2 at a high pH were studied together to compare the precipitate forms in the carbonate solutions.

Classification of materials for explosives from prompt gamma spectra by using principal component analysis.

Data from the elemental composition-ratios and experimental prompt gamma spectra of samples were used to develop suitable discriminant classes for suspect samples. The collected data and gamma spectra were applied to principal component analysis (PCA) to discriminate explosives from non-explosive materials.

Enhancement of the detection sensitivity for volatile organic compounds by using an annular type photoionization detector and a pre-concentration system.

Photoionization detector (PID) was developed for a sensitive on-site detection of trace amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on an annular type ion collection electrode assembly. An ion collector with an annular geometry could detect more stable ion signals in the PID system when compared to the other types of ion collectors when an UV lamp of 10.6 eV was used as an ionization source. In order to enhance the detection sensitivity, a pre-concentration system, which was developed by adopting a ceramic heater packed with rod shaped molecular sieves, was adopted for a detection of VOCs. The adopted ceramic heaters had a resistance of 10-20 Ohm, and the temperature of the heater was optimized by controlling the heating time of the resistor. The enhancement of the detection sensitivity was found to be 8-10 times with the PID system when compared to the signals measured without a pre-concentrator. The overall detection sensitivity of the developed PID system was estimated as 10 ppb or better.