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Title: Characterization of a Sealed Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) Source by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Two Americium-Beryllium neutron sources were dismantled, sampled (sub-sampled) and analyzed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Characteristics such as “age” since purification, actinide content, trace metal content and inter and intra source composition were determined. The “age” since purification of the two sources was determined to be 25.0 and 25.4 years, respectively. The systematic errors in the “age” determination were ± 4 % 2s. The amount and isotopic composition of U and Pu varied substantially between the sub-samples of Source 2 (n=8). This may be due to the physical means of sub-sampling or the way the source was manufactured. Source 1 was much more consistent in terms of content and isotopic composition (n=3 sub-samples). The Be-Am ratio varied greatly between the two sources. Source 1 had an Am-Be ratio of 6.3 ± 52 % (1s). Source 2 had an Am-Be ratio of 9.81 ± 3.5 % (1s). In addition, the trace element content between the samples varied greatly. Significant differences were determined between Source 1 and 2 for Sc, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ba and W.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
970631
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-09-15752
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731; JRNCDM; TRN: US1000827
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC07-05ID14517
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 282; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; ACTINIDES; ELEMENTS; MASS SPECTROSCOPY; NEUTRON SOURCES; PLASMA; PURIFICATION; TRACE AMOUNTS; Am-Be Sources; americium; beryllium; ICP-MS; neutron sources

Citation Formats

Sommers, James, Jimenez, Marcos, Adamic, Mary, Giglio, Jeffrey, and Carney, Kevin. Characterization of a Sealed Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) Source by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1.
Sommers, James, Jimenez, Marcos, Adamic, Mary, Giglio, Jeffrey, & Carney, Kevin. Characterization of a Sealed Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) Source by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1
Sommers, James, Jimenez, Marcos, Adamic, Mary, Giglio, Jeffrey, and Carney, Kevin. 2009. "Characterization of a Sealed Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) Source by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1.
@article{osti_970631,
title = {Characterization of a Sealed Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) Source by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry},
author = {Sommers, James and Jimenez, Marcos and Adamic, Mary and Giglio, Jeffrey and Carney, Kevin},
abstractNote = {Two Americium-Beryllium neutron sources were dismantled, sampled (sub-sampled) and analyzed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Characteristics such as “age” since purification, actinide content, trace metal content and inter and intra source composition were determined. The “age” since purification of the two sources was determined to be 25.0 and 25.4 years, respectively. The systematic errors in the “age” determination were ± 4 % 2s. The amount and isotopic composition of U and Pu varied substantially between the sub-samples of Source 2 (n=8). This may be due to the physical means of sub-sampling or the way the source was manufactured. Source 1 was much more consistent in terms of content and isotopic composition (n=3 sub-samples). The Be-Am ratio varied greatly between the two sources. Source 1 had an Am-Be ratio of 6.3 ± 52 % (1s). Source 2 had an Am-Be ratio of 9.81 ± 3.5 % (1s). In addition, the trace element content between the samples varied greatly. Significant differences were determined between Source 1 and 2 for Sc, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ba and W.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/970631}, journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
issn = {0236-5731},
number = 3,
volume = 282,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}