Simulation study of the sensitivity of isotope dilution analysis by mass spectrometry
Isotope dilution analysis by mass spectrometry (IDMS) is a method of measuring elemental assays or concentrations. It is especially useful when only small samples are available for the element of interest. Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Seibersdorf, Austria, applies IDMS to measure elemental assays in uranium samples (0.5--10 mg) and in plutonium samples (0.001-5 mg). SAL makes IDMS analyses on spent fuels or nuclear products when titration methods are impractical. Chemists quantitatively mix a known amount of sample with a measured isotopic composition with a known amount of tracer of the same element as the sample. The tracer is a material with a well-known elemental concentration. Tracer material is fabricated with one or more spike isotopes whose isotopic ratios are well characterized. These tracer isotopic spikes are usually in smaller abundances (e.g., {sup 233}U, {sup 236}U, {sup 242}Pu and {sup 244}Pu) in the sample. Chemists make mass spectrometric measurements on the resulting isotopic composition of sample and tracer mixture. The elemental assay in the sample is then calculated. These calculations compare the spike isotopic ratio in the mixture with the spike isotopic ratio in the sample using the known quantity of spike in the tracer. 19 figs., 19 tabs., 14 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- PTAIAEA; US Program for Technical Assistance (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5202096
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/CSD/TM-282; ISPO--333; ON: DE91018610
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105* -- Separation Procedures
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
CALIBRATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
ISOTOPES
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SPECTROSCOPY
SPENT FUELS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
URANIUM ISOTOPES