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Limiting spectroscopic interferences of 239Pu and 237Np in a UO2 matrix using LA-ICP-MS

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the spectral overlap for actinides and directly measure plutonium in uranium oxide and neptunium in uranium oxide matrix without an internal standard using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The system successfully measured 239Pu and 237Np with linear correlation coefficients (>0.99), relative standard deviations, limits of detections (0.026 and 0.111 wt% respectively) and percent biases reported. Each sample set was measured and analyzed within an hour which suggests a more rapid analytical technique than current methods used in nuclear safeguards to quantify plutonium and neptunium in a uranium matrix.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number: DE-NA0000979 through the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or limited, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Radiochemistry Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 454003, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-4003, USA

    Keri Campbell, Aaron Unger, William Kerlin, Thomas Hartmann, Julie Bertoia & Ken Czerwinski

  2. Chemical Diagnostics and Engineering, Chemistry Division C-CDE, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS J964, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Elizabeth Judge & Matthew Dirmyer

Authors
  1. Keri Campbell
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  2. Aaron Unger
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  3. William Kerlin
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  4. Thomas Hartmann
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  5. Julie Bertoia
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  6. Elizabeth Judge
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  7. Matthew Dirmyer
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  8. Ken Czerwinski
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Correspondence to Keri Campbell.

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Campbell, K., Unger, A., Kerlin, W. et al. Limiting spectroscopic interferences of 239Pu and 237Np in a UO2 matrix using LA-ICP-MS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 310, 533–540 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4854-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4854-x

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