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Multi-element isotopic analysis of hot particles from Chornobyl

Journal Article · · Journal of Hazardous Materials
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  1. Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany). Institute for Radioecology and Radiation Protection
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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Microscopic fuel fragments, so-called “hot particles”, were released during the 1986 accident at the Chornobyl nuclear powerplant and continue to contaminate the exclusion zone in northern Ukraine. Isotopic analysis can provide vital information about sample origin, history and contamination of the environment, though it has been underutilized due to the destructive nature of most mass spectrometric techniques, and inability to remove isobaric interference. Recent developments have diversified the range of elements that can be investigated through resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS), notably in the fission products. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the application of multi-element analysis on hot particles as relates to their burnup, particle formation in the accident, and weathering. The particles were analysed with two RIMS instruments: resonant-laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (rL-SNMS) at the Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology (IRS) in Hannover, Germany, and laser ionization of neutrals (LION) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, USA. Comparable results across instruments show a range of burnup dependent isotope ratios for U and Pu and Cs, characteristic of RBMK-type reactors. Results for Rb, Ba and Sr show the influence of the environment, retention of Cs in the particles and time passed since fuel discharge.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; European Union (EU)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1972042
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-844531; 1065715
Journal Information:
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Hazardous Materials Vol. 452; ISSN 0304-3894
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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