Laser ablation of silicate glasses doped with transuranic actinides
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Direct sampling laser ablation plasma mass spectrometry was applied to silica glasses doped with {sup 237}Np, {sup 242}Pu, or {sup 241}Am using an instrument installed in a transuranic glove box. The primary goal was to assess the utility of mass spectrometry of directly ablated ions for facile evaluation of actinide (An) constituents of silicate glass immobilization matrices used for encapsulation of radionuclides. The instrument and general procedures have been described elsewhere. The key finding was that actinides and other easily ionized elements such as Ba and Al (ionization energy {le} 6 eV) produced abundant M{sup +} and/or MO{sup +}, whereas positive ions of elements with relatively large ionization energies, such as Si and B (IE {ge} 8 eV), were essentially absent. Laser ablation mass spectrometry is accordingly well-suited to detecting An and fission products such as {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs in glasses. Detection limits of <0.1 at.% should be readily achievable, and improvement of the ion collection geometry would enhance detection. This exploratory study demonstrated direct sampling laser ablation mass spectrometry as a viable tool for analyzing glass immobilization matrices. The technique would be of greatest value for detecting and determining spatial variations of actinides and fission products. The use of chemical separation of ablated ions should discriminate isobaric actinides.
- OSTI ID:
- 298266
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-981106-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 99:001898
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 79; Conference: American Nuclear Society winter meeting, Washington, DC (United States), 15-19 Nov 1998; Other Information: PBD: 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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