237Np analytical method using 239Np tracers and application to a contaminated nuclear disposal facility

Snow, Mathew S.; Morrison, Samuel S.; Clark, Sue B.; Olson, John E.; Watrous, Matthew G.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.02.018

²³⁷Np analytical method using ²³⁹Np tracers and application to a contaminated nuclear disposal facility

Journal Article · Tue Mar 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.02.018· OSTI ID:1357190

Snow, Mathew S. ^[1]; Morrison, Samuel S. ^[2]; Clark, Sue B. ^[2]; Olson, John E. ^[3]; ^[3]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

In this study, environmental ²³⁷Np analyses are challenged by low ²³⁷Np concentrations and lack of an available yield tracer; we report a rapid, inexpensive ²³⁷Np analytical approach employing the short lived ²³⁹Np (t1/2 = 2.3 days) as a chemical yield tracer followed by ²³⁷Np quantification using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. ²³⁹Np tracer is obtained via separation from a ²⁴³Am stock solution and standardized using gamma spectrometry immediately prior to sample processing. Rapid digestions using a commercial, 900 W "Walmart" microwave and Parr microwave vessels result in 99.8 ± 0.1% digestion yields, while chromatographic separations enable Np/U separation factors on the order of 10⁶ and total Np yields of 95 ± 4% (2σ). Application of this method to legacy soil samples surrounding a radioactive disposal facility (the Subsurface Disposal Area at Idaho National Laboratory) reveal the presence of low level ²³⁷Np contamination within 600 m of this site, with maximum ²³⁷Np concentrations on the order of 10³ times greater than nuclear weapons testing fallout levels.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1357190

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1372000
OSTI ID: 22706312

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--14-31619; PII: S0265931X16304933

Journal Information:: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Journal Issue: C Vol. 172; ISSN 0265-931X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited By (1)

Rapid measurements of 235U fission product isotope ratios using an online, high-pressure ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry protocol with comparison to isotopic depletion models Fenske, Emilie K.; Roach, Benjamin D.; Glasgow, David C. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 320, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06438-4	journal	February 2019

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Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
INL
Np-237
Np-239
SDA
subsurface disposal area