Analytical capability of the uranium hexafluoride mass spectrometer

Conference · Mon Jun 27 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:7305571

Kauffman, G. F.

The UF/sub 6/ mass spectrometer is an indispensable instrument at the gaseous diffusion plants where vast quantities of UF/sub 6/ are processed and thousands of uranium isotopic determinations must be made every month. The electron impact ion source permits rapid exchange of samples and the dual collector provides a rapid and precise measurement of the ratio of two ion currents. The analyses are six-entry relative analyses in which the readings obtained on a sample having unknown isotopic composition are compared to readings obtained on an isotopic standard or to readings obtained on two bracketing standards. About 12 minutes are required for a determination and the analytical precision is such that the relative standard deviation of a single determination is +-0.05 percent or better. However, the mass spectrometer readings are biased. In the literature the bias is blamed on sample interaction or ''memory.'' In this discussion, the nonlinearity of the relationship between the mass spectrometer ratio reading and the isotopic mole ratio of the sample is shown to be responsible for the major portion of the bias, while sample interaction, amplifier zeros, secondary electron emission, and the beam width also influence the magnitude of the bias.

• Research Organization: Goodyear Atomic Corp., Piketon, OH (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-05-0001
• OSTI ID: 7305571
• Report Number(s): GAT-T-2657; CONF-770575-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104* -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
440300 -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ERRORS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PERFORMANCE
SPECTROMETERS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM ISOTOPES