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Title: Laboratory-based characterization of plutonium in soil particles using micro-XRF and 3D confocal XRF

Journal Article · · Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/C5JA00068H· OSTI ID:1329560
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Chemistry Division
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division
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The investigation of plutonium (Pu) in a soil matrix is of interest in safeguards, nuclear forensics, and environmental remediation activities. The elemental composition of two plutonium contaminated soil particles was characterized nondestructively using a pair of micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (micro-XRF) techniques including high resolution X-ray (hiRX) and 3D confocal XRF. The three dimensional elemental imaging capability of confocal XRF permitted the identification two distinct Pu particles within the samples: one external to the Ferich soil matrix and another co-located with Cu within the soil matrix. The size and morphology of the particles was assessed with X-ray transmission microscopy and micro X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) providing complementary morphological information. Limits of detection for a 30 μm Pu particle are <10 ng for each of the XRF techniques. Ultimately, this study highlights the capability for lab-based, nondestructive, spatially resolved characterization of heterogeneous matrices on the micrometer scale with nanogram sensitivity.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1329560
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-15-20897
Journal Information:
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 30, Issue 7; ISSN 0267-9477
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (10)

A comparison of two micro-beam X-ray emission techniques for actinide elemental distribution in microscopic particles originating from the hydrogen bombs involved in the Palomares (Spain) and Thule (Greenland) accidents journal September 2010
Source term identification of environmental radioactive Pu/U particles by their characterization with non-destructive spectrochemical analytical techniques journal April 2005
Characterization of U/Pu particles originating from the nuclear weapon accidents at Palomares, Spain, 1966 and Thule, Greenland, 1968 journal April 2007
Non-destructive characterisation of low radioactive particles from Irish Sea sediment by micro X-ray synchrotron radiation techniques: micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) spectroscopy journal January 2004
Comparison of nuclear and X-ray techniques for actinide analysis of environmental hot particles journal January 2003
Frequency distribution, isotopic composition and physical characterization of plutonium-bearing particles from the Fig-Quince zone on Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll journal July 2009
Comparison of two micro-analytical methods for detecting the spatial distribution of sorbed Pu on geologic materials journal February 2001
Determination of plutonium in spent nuclear fuel using high resolution X-ray journal August 2015
Integrating 3D images using laboratory-based micro X-ray computed tomography and confocal X-ray fluorescence techniques journal May 2010
Non-destructive elemental quantification of polymer-embedded thin films using laboratory based X-ray techniques journal November 2014

Cited By (3)

2016 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its applications journal January 2016
Microscale Electromagnetic Heating in Heterogeneous Energetic Materials Based on X-ray Computed Tomography journal April 2016
Emergent Properties of Microbial Activity in Heterogeneous Soil Microenvironments: Different Research Approaches Are Slowly Converging, Yet Major Challenges Remain journal August 2018

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38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
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