Simultaneous isotopic analysis of fission product Sr, Mo, and Ru in spent nuclear fuel particles by resonance ionization mass spectrometry

Savina, Michael R.; Isselhardt, Brett H.; Shulaker, Danielle Z.; Robel, Martin; Conant, Andrew J.; Ade, Brian J.

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-32203-5

Title: Simultaneous isotopic analysis of fission product Sr, Mo, and Ru in spent nuclear fuel particles by resonance ionization mass spectrometry

Journal Article · Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32203-5· OSTI ID:1964185

Savina, Michael R.; Isselhardt, Brett H.; Shulaker, Danielle Z.; Robel, Martin; Conant, Andrew J.; Ade, Brian J.

Fission product Sr, Mo, and Ru isotopes in six 10-μm particles of spent fuel from a pressurized water reactor were analyzed by resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) and evaluated for utility in nuclear material characterization. Previous measurements on these same samples showed widely varying U, Pu, and Am isotopic compositions owing to the samples’ differing irradiation environments within the reactor. This is also seen in Mo and Ru isotopes, which have the added complication of exsolution from the UO₂ fuel matrix. This variability is a hindrance to interpreting data from a collection of particles with incomplete provenance since it is not always possible to assign particles to the same batch of fuel based on isotopic analyses alone. In contrast, the measured ⁹⁰Sr/⁸⁸Sr ratios were indistinguishable across all samples. Strontium isotopic analysis can therefore be used to connect samples with otherwise disparate isotopic compositions, allowing them to be grouped appropriately for interpretation. Strontium isotopic analysis also provides a robust chronometer for determining the time since fuel irradiation. Because of the very high sensitivity of RIMS, only a small fraction of material in each of the 10 μm samples was consumed, leaving the vast majority still available for other analyses.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1964185

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1972557; OSTI ID: 2007588

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-836164; 5193; PII: 32203

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 13 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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