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Development of an iridium dissolution method for the evaluation of potential radiological device materials

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Abstract

New techniques that could assist law enforcement officers in the evaluation of radioactive materials of unknown provenance are required. This paper provides preliminary results on a new method for iridium metal dissolution using pressure digestion vessels and hydrogen peroxide, which has been developed for use in forensic applications. The results were generated using iridium powder as a surrogate, but it is anticipated that the method will be directly transferable to iridium source materials.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr Imran Khan and Mr Kieran Thorne for the assistance provided during Raman and mass spectrometric analyses, respectively. We are also grateful to AWE plc for the financial support provided to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK

    A. P. J. Hodgson & O. J. Marsden

  2. Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    A. P. J. Hodgson & R. W. Grimes

  3. Faculty of Natural Sciences, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 1NA, UK

    K. E. Jarvis

Authors
  1. A. P. J. Hodgson
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  2. K. E. Jarvis
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  3. R. W. Grimes
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  4. O. J. Marsden
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Correspondence to A. P. J. Hodgson.

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Hodgson, A.P.J., Jarvis, K.E., Grimes, R.W. et al. Development of an iridium dissolution method for the evaluation of potential radiological device materials. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 307, 2181–2186 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4381-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4381-1

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