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A New Method for In Situ Characterization of Important Actinides Via Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

Conference ·
OSTI ID:826147
In-situ characterization of actinides and technetium compounds in high level wastes is essential to achieve shorter turn-around times for analytical results or to facilitate tank closure after retrieval. Currently, techniques for monitoring and characterizing radionuclides rely primarily on liquid scintillation counting, ICP-MS, and some limited use of the spectrofluorimetry based on fluorescence of radionuclide species under laser or UV excitation. These techniques require chemical handling, e.g., the use of complexing media, scintillation cocktails, phosphoric acids, in order to enhance signals. Furthermore, only fluorescent radionuclides [uranyl, Cm(III), Am(III)] can be detected by the last technique. Many environmentally-important radionuclides such as plutonium, neptunium, and technetium species have no strong fluorescence signals and therefore can not be characterized via fluorescence spectroscopy. We have developed a novel characterization technique based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to selectively and sensitively monitor and characterize the chemical speciation of radionuclides at trace levels. The SERS technique permits both of these measurements to be made simultaneously, and results in significant improvement over current methods in reducing time of analysis, cost, and sample manipulation.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC) (US)
OSTI ID:
826147
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English