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Separation of protactinium from uranium-niobium alloys for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry in nuclear forensic investigations
Abstract
The isolation and purification of protactinium from uranium materials is essential for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry, but separating Pa from uranium-niobium alloys, a common material in the nuclear fuel cycle, is challenging due to the chemical similarity of Pa and Nb. Here, in this work, we present three resin chromatography separation techniques for isolating Pa from U and Nb which were independently developed by three different laboratories through ad hoc adaptations of standard operating procedures. Our results underscore the need for and value of purification methods suitable for a diversity of uranium-based materials to ensure the operational readiness of nuclear forensics laboratories.
- Authors:
-
[1];
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Aldermaston (United Kingdom)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Counter-terrorism and Counter-nonproliferation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 2006747
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 2217505
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-843763; LA-UR-23-21440
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731; 1066207
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344; 89233218CNA000001
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 332; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; radiochronometry; nuclear forensics; uranium alloy; 231Pa–235U; actinide separations; protactinium
Citation Formats
Chen, Christine Yifeng, Higginson, Matthew A., Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Denton, Joanna S., Dunne, James, Edwards, Mark A., Eng, Charlotte, Engel, John R., Gaffney, Amy M., Gilligan, Chris, Morris, Maya N., Rolison, John M., Sanborn, Matthew E., and Wende, Allison M. Separation of protactinium from uranium-niobium alloys for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry in nuclear forensic investigations. United States: N. p., 2023.
Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-023-08928-y.
Chen, Christine Yifeng, Higginson, Matthew A., Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Denton, Joanna S., Dunne, James, Edwards, Mark A., Eng, Charlotte, Engel, John R., Gaffney, Amy M., Gilligan, Chris, Morris, Maya N., Rolison, John M., Sanborn, Matthew E., & Wende, Allison M. Separation of protactinium from uranium-niobium alloys for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry in nuclear forensic investigations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08928-y
Chen, Christine Yifeng, Higginson, Matthew A., Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Denton, Joanna S., Dunne, James, Edwards, Mark A., Eng, Charlotte, Engel, John R., Gaffney, Amy M., Gilligan, Chris, Morris, Maya N., Rolison, John M., Sanborn, Matthew E., and Wende, Allison M. Thu .
"Separation of protactinium from uranium-niobium alloys for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry in nuclear forensic investigations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08928-y.
@article{osti_2006747,
title = {Separation of protactinium from uranium-niobium alloys for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry in nuclear forensic investigations},
author = {Chen, Christine Yifeng and Higginson, Matthew A. and Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M. and Denton, Joanna S. and Dunne, James and Edwards, Mark A. and Eng, Charlotte and Engel, John R. and Gaffney, Amy M. and Gilligan, Chris and Morris, Maya N. and Rolison, John M. and Sanborn, Matthew E. and Wende, Allison M.},
abstractNote = {The isolation and purification of protactinium from uranium materials is essential for 231Pa–235U radiochronometry, but separating Pa from uranium-niobium alloys, a common material in the nuclear fuel cycle, is challenging due to the chemical similarity of Pa and Nb. Here, in this work, we present three resin chromatography separation techniques for isolating Pa from U and Nb which were independently developed by three different laboratories through ad hoc adaptations of standard operating procedures. Our results underscore the need for and value of purification methods suitable for a diversity of uranium-based materials to ensure the operational readiness of nuclear forensics laboratories.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-023-08928-y},
journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
number = 7,
volume = 332,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 18 00:00:00 EDT 2023},
month = {Thu May 18 00:00:00 EDT 2023}
}
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