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Trace analysis of uranium ore concentrates using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for nuclear forensics

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Abstract

We present a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) method for trace-element analysis of uranium ore concentrates (UOCs). The method was used to characterize a select number of UOC samples representing 20 different producers from 8 distinct geographic locations. These results were then used to assess the origin of the samples using a machine-learning algorithm. The LA-ICP-MS characterization performed equally well as that obtained by the conventional aqueous method, suggesting that this rapid, low waste technique is suitable for National Nuclear Forensic Library applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 3484 Limebank Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1E1, Canada

    Slobodan V. Jovanovic, Tara Kell, Chris Cochrane & Ali El-Jaby

  2. National Research Council Canada, 75 Mortagne, Boucherville, QC, J4B 6Y4, Canada

    Josette El-Haddad

  3. National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1K 2E1, Canada

    Christopher Drummond

Authors
  1. Slobodan V. Jovanovic
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  2. Tara Kell
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  3. Josette El-Haddad
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  4. Chris Cochrane
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  5. Christopher Drummond
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  6. Ali El-Jaby
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Correspondence to Slobodan V. Jovanovic.

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Jovanovic, S.V., Kell, T., El-Haddad, J. et al. Trace analysis of uranium ore concentrates using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for nuclear forensics. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 323, 831–838 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06991-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06991-y

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