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Trace impurity analysis in uranium oxide via hybrid quantification techniques—gravimetric standard addition and isotope dilution mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Measurement methods for the analysis of trace impurities in uranium materials, essential in nuclear fuel production and nuclear forensics, are continuously improving. Analytical methods were developed with the goal of lowering uncertainties of next generation certified uranium oxide reference materials for trace impurity concentrations. Through addition of a traceable standard directly into the sample, gravimetric standard addition and isotope dilution followed by analysis on an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer can achieve lower uncertainties. Results for 28 impurities in CRM 124-1 and 124-6 from NBL Program Office were used for validation of accuracy and comparisons of uncertainties.

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Notes

  1. The actual scope of the analysis was 28 elements, 17 by IDMS and 11 by gravimetric standard addition; however, 11 of those elements are not certified values in the CRM 124 series from NBLPO but are included for informational purposes.

  2. The NIDC manages isotope production funded by the Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications within the Office of Nuclear Physics of the United States Department of Energy Office of Science.

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Acknowledgements

Radioactive work requires many controls to ensure personnel and environment safety, and for that we thank Lisa Duncan, Mike Hensley and Micah Ely. The authors would like to thank Jeff Morrison as the program manager. This work is supported by the the Department of Homeland Security at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle, LLC. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-000R22725. The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA

    Kayron T. Rogers, Joseph Giaquinto, Shalina C. Metzger, Brian W. Ticknor & Cole R. Hexel

  2. National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

    Richard M. Essex

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  1. Kayron T. Rogers
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  2. Joseph Giaquinto
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Correspondence to Cole R. Hexel.

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Rogers, K.T., Giaquinto, J., Essex, R.M. et al. Trace impurity analysis in uranium oxide via hybrid quantification techniques—gravimetric standard addition and isotope dilution mass spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 685–694 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6106-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6106-8

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