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Measurement of 151Sm in nuclear decommissioning samples by ICP-MS/MS

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Abstract

151Sm [half-life 94.7 (6) years] is a fission and activation product that requires accurate measurement as part of nuclear decommissioning. A procedure is outlined for the measurement of 151Sm in spiked graphite samples. Digestion is performed by automated lithium borate fusion, followed by extraction chromatography separation of 151Sm from interfering lanthanide isotopes, primarily europium. Measurement is carried out using tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS), using the integrated collision/reaction cell as a rapid support to radiochemical separation of 151Sm from isobaric 151Eu using oxygen as a reactive gas, achieving detection limits below the out-of-scope limit for 151Sm.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the European Metrology Research Program (EMRP) joint research project “Metrology for Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities” (MetroDecom). The European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) is jointly funded by the EMRP participating countries within EURAMET and the European Union.

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  1. Radiochemistry Group, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, UK

    Maria Garcia Miranda, Ben Russell & Peter Ivanov

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  1. Maria Garcia Miranda
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  2. Ben Russell
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  3. Peter Ivanov
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Correspondence to Ben Russell.

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Miranda, M.G., Russell, B. & Ivanov, P. Measurement of 151Sm in nuclear decommissioning samples by ICP-MS/MS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 316, 831–838 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5764-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5764-x

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