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Isotope ratio analysis of actinides, fission products, and geolocators by high-efficiency multi-collector thermal ionization mass spectrometry

International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, ISSN: 1387-3806, Vol: 286, Issue: 2, Page: 70-82
2009
  • 65
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 43
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    65
    • Citation Indexes
      65
  • Captures
    43

Article Description

A ThermoFisher “Triton” multi-collector thermal ionization mass spectrometer (MC-TIMS) was evaluated for trace and ultra-trace level isotope ratio analysis of actinides (uranium, plutonium, and americium), fission products and geolocators (strontium, cesium, and neodymium). Total efficiencies (atoms loaded to ions detected) of up to 0.5–2% for U, Pu, and Am, and 1–30% for Sr, Cs, and Nd can be reported employing resin bead load techniques onto flat ribbon Re filaments or resin beads loaded into a millimeter-sized cavity drilled into a Re rod. This results in detection limits of <0.1 fg (10 4 atoms to 10 5 atoms) for 239–242+244 Pu, 233+236 U, 241–243 Am, 89,90 Sr, and 134,135,137 Cs, and ≤1 pg for natural Nd isotopes (limited by the chemical processing blank) using a secondary electron multiplier (SEM) or multiple-ion counters (MICs). Relative standard deviations (RSD) as small as 0.1% and abundance sensitivities of 1 × 10 6 or better using a SEM are reported here. Precisions of RSD ≈0.01–0.001% using a multi-collector Faraday cup array can be achieved at sub-nanogram concentrations for strontium and neodymium and are suitable to gain crucial geolocation information. The analytical protocols reported herein are of particular value for nuclear forensic and nuclear safeguard applications.

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