Transition of Iodine Analysis to Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1260886· OSTI ID:1260886

Watrous, Matthew George ^[1]; Adamic, Mary Louise ^[1]; Olson, John Eric ^[1]; Baeck, D. L. ^[1]; Fox, R. V. ^[1]; Hahn, P. A. ^[1]; Jenson, D. D. ^[1]; Lister, T. E. ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

The goal of the project, New Paradigms for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry: Raising the Scientific Profile and Improved Performance for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), is to ensure that the ongoing isotope ratio determination capability within the U.S. Department of Energy complex is the world’s best for application to nonproliferation. This report spells out the progress of Task 4, Transition of TIMS to AMS for Iodine Analysis, of the larger project. The subtasks under Task 4 and the accomplishments throughout the three year project life cycle are presented in this report. Progress was made in optimization of chemical extraction, determination of a detection limit for 127Iodine, production of standard materials for AMS analysis quality assurance, facilitation of knowledge exchange with respect to analyzing iodine on an AMS, cross comparison with a world-leading AMS laboratory, supercritical fluid extraction of iodine for AMS analysis and electrodeposition of seawater as a direct method of preparation for iodine analysis by AMS--all with the goal of minimizing the time required to stand up an AMS capability for iodine analysis of exposed air filters at INL. An effective extraction method has been developed and demonstrated for iodine analysis of exposed air filters. Innovative techniques to accomplish the cathode preparation for AMS analysis were developed and demonstrated and published. The known gap of a lack of available materials for reference standards in the analysis of iodine by AMS was filled by the preparation of homogenous materials that were calibrated against NIST materials. A minimum limit on the amount of abundant isotope in a sample was determined for AMS analysis. The knowledge exchange occurred with fantastic success. Scientists engaged the international AMS community at conferences, as well as in their laboratories for collaborative work. The supercritical fluid extraction work has positive data, but is not a replacement for leaching yet. The added seawater work has led to a good method and a possible publication. The focus of this project was to minimize the time to stand up the AMS capability, by having all the preparation and supporting functions worked out ahead of the instrument arrival. Due to all the preparatory work and its success, the instrument was delivered and turned over to the INL in February 2015. Since then, INL scientists have been successfully vetting the capabilities and accomplishing their own measurements that agree well with the leading laboratories of the world for iodine analysis by AMS. Initially, all AMS data was gathered on other laboratories instruments, but during the last six months data for this project has come from INL’s AMS.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1260886
• Report Number(s): INL/EXT-15-36846; TRN: US1601565
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
IODINE 127
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
AIR FILTERS
SEAWATER
ISOTOPE RATIO
ACCELERATORS
ELECTRODEPOSITION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CATHODES
QUALITY ASSURANCE
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
PROLIFERATION
SENSITIVITY
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
IONIZATION
HEAT
AMS
Iodine