Investigation Of Alternate Analytical Techniques To Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry For Measurement Of Uranium And Plutonium In Input Accountability Tanks

The 1990s saw significant developments in the global non-proliferation landscape, resulting in a new period of safeguards development. The current publication, which is the second revision and update of IAEA/NVS/1, is intended to give a full and balanced description of the safeguards techniques and equipment used for nuclear material accountancy, containment and surveillance measures, environmental sampling, and data security. New features include a section on new and novel technologies. As new verification measures continue to be developed, the material in this book will be reviewed periodically and updated versions issued.

The isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) technique is well known and widely reported in the literature. However, its application can present considerable difficulties with regard to obtaining reliable results. Produced jointly by the Royal Society of Chemistry's Analytical Methods Committee and the Valid Analytical Measurement (VAM) programme, the aim of this book is to provide a simplified yet robust methodology, together with adequate guidance, to enable laboratories wishing to use the technique to obtain reliable data. The methodologies, for inorganic and organic mass spectrometry, which use exact and approximate matching, are illustrated with worked examples and clear diagrammatic representations. A comprehensive glossary of terms, references to key publications and an extensive IDMS bibliography are also provided. Clear and comprehensive in coverage, Guidelines for Achieving High Accuracy in Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) will provide valuable assistance to a wide variety of analytical chemists interested in applying the IDMS technique to their own measurement applications.

Over the past decade significant progress has been achieved in the development of waste characterization and control procedures and equipment as a direct response to ever-increasing requirements for quality and reliability of information on waste characteristics. Failure in control procedures at any step can have important, adverse consequences and may result in producing waste packages which are not compliant with the waste acceptance criteria for disposal, thereby adversely impacting the repository. The information and guidance included in this publication corresponds to recent achievements and reflects the optimum approaches, thereby reducing the potential for error and enhancing the quality of the end product. -- Publisher's description.

A new, rapid sample preparation method to improve the assay of uranium and plutonium by mass spectrometry has been developed at the Westinghouse Savannah River Site (SRS). The method is applied to the analysis of mixed plutonium-uranium oxide materials but can be applied to low-level mass spectrometry analyses as well. The new method uses a single extraction chromatographic column to separate and purify both uranium and plutonium for isotopic assay by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. A dual uranium/plutonium spike isotope dilution technique is used to allow rapid analysis of uranium/plutonium content and isotopics. A single UTEVA Resin column is utilized to simultaneously separate both uranium and plutonium from the sample matrix. The plutonium and uranium can rapidly removed from the column separately or eluted together for analysis. This new method combines sample preparation into a single, effective separation step that significantly reduces sample preparation time and costs.

Several analytical techniques have long been used for uranium concentration and isotopic ratio determinations within the many Department of Energy laboratories located throughout the United States. Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) has historically been the technique of choice for isotopic ratio measurements, primarily due to its capability for high precision. For uranium concentration work, the list of techniques is long and varied. Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses, which can become critical in the analysis of difficult sample matrices such as sludges, oils, and mixed wastes.