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Title: Quantification of rare earth elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

In this paper, a study of the optical emission as a function of concentration of laser-ablated yttrium (Y) and of six rare earth elements, europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and samarium (Sm), has been evaluated using the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. Statistical methodology using multivariate analysis has been used to obtain the sampling errors, coefficient of regression, calibration, and cross-validation of measurements as they relate to the LIBS analysis in graphite-matrix pellets that were doped with elements at several concentrations. Each element (in oxide form) was mixed in the graphite matrix in percentages ranging from 1% to 50% by weight and the LIBS spectra obtained for each composition as well as for pure oxide samples. Finally, a single pellet was mixed with all the elements in equal oxide masses to determine if we can identify the elemental peaks in a mixed pellet. This dataset is relevant for future application to studies of fission product content and distribution in irradiated nuclear fuels. These results demonstrate that LIBS technique is inherently well suited for the future challenge of in situ analysis of nuclear materials. Finally, these studies also show that LIBS spectral analysis using statistical methodologymore » can provide quantitative results and suggest an approach in future to the far more challenging multielemental analysis of ~ 20 primary elements in high-burnup nuclear reactor fuel.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [1];  [4]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biosciences Division
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division. Fusion Materials and Nuclear Structures Group
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Environmental Sciences Division
  4. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Center for Renewable Carbon
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1261279
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 114; Journal ID: ISSN 0584-8547
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; LIBS; rare earths; multielemental analysis

Citation Formats

Martin, Madhavi, Martin, Rodger C., Allman, Steve, Brice, Deanne, Wymore, Ann, and Andre, Nicolas. Quantification of rare earth elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2015.10.005.
Martin, Madhavi, Martin, Rodger C., Allman, Steve, Brice, Deanne, Wymore, Ann, & Andre, Nicolas. Quantification of rare earth elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2015.10.005
Martin, Madhavi, Martin, Rodger C., Allman, Steve, Brice, Deanne, Wymore, Ann, and Andre, Nicolas. 2015. "Quantification of rare earth elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2015.10.005. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1261279.
@article{osti_1261279,
title = {Quantification of rare earth elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy},
author = {Martin, Madhavi and Martin, Rodger C. and Allman, Steve and Brice, Deanne and Wymore, Ann and Andre, Nicolas},
abstractNote = {In this paper, a study of the optical emission as a function of concentration of laser-ablated yttrium (Y) and of six rare earth elements, europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and samarium (Sm), has been evaluated using the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. Statistical methodology using multivariate analysis has been used to obtain the sampling errors, coefficient of regression, calibration, and cross-validation of measurements as they relate to the LIBS analysis in graphite-matrix pellets that were doped with elements at several concentrations. Each element (in oxide form) was mixed in the graphite matrix in percentages ranging from 1% to 50% by weight and the LIBS spectra obtained for each composition as well as for pure oxide samples. Finally, a single pellet was mixed with all the elements in equal oxide masses to determine if we can identify the elemental peaks in a mixed pellet. This dataset is relevant for future application to studies of fission product content and distribution in irradiated nuclear fuels. These results demonstrate that LIBS technique is inherently well suited for the future challenge of in situ analysis of nuclear materials. Finally, these studies also show that LIBS spectral analysis using statistical methodology can provide quantitative results and suggest an approach in future to the far more challenging multielemental analysis of ~ 20 primary elements in high-burnup nuclear reactor fuel.},
doi = {10.1016/j.sab.2015.10.005},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1261279}, journal = {Spectrochimica Acta. Part B, Atomic Spectroscopy},
issn = {0584-8547},
number = ,
volume = 114,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}