Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Estimating the capabilities of the TIMS TE analytical technique using random effects models applied to quality control measurements

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The International Atomic Energy Agency uses the Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry Total Evaporation method routinely to analyze the n(U-235)/n(U-238) atom amount ratios in inspection and quality control samples. This paper uses a top-down statistical model applied to quality control measurements of certified reference materials (CRM) to study the capabilities of the technique. The technique is shown to produce measurements with a relative standard deviation not more than 0.03% when applied to a wide range of certified reference materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Boulyga S, Konegger-Kappel S, Richter S, Sangely L (2015) Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards. J Anal At Spectrom 30(7):1469–1489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Buerger S, Balsley S, Baumann S, Berger J, Boulyga S, Cunningham J, Kappel S, Koepf A, Poths J (2012) Uranium and plutonium analysis of nuclear material samples by multi-collector thermal ionisation mass spectrometry: quality control, measurement uncertainty, and metrological traceability. Int J Mass Spectrom 311:40–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mathew K, O’Conner G, Hasozbek A, Kraiem M (2013) Total evaporation method for uranium isotope amount ratio measurements. J Anal At Spectrom 28(6):866–876

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. ASTM International (2017) Standard test method for determination of uranium or plutonium isotopic composition or concentration by the total evaporation method using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer, ASTM International, West Conshohoken

  5. Siegmund HHJ, Sturm M, Koepf A, L’Herault C, Boulyga S (2019) Improved TIMS data reliability and precision with new ion source design. J Anal At Spectrom 34(5):986–997

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (2008) Evaluation of measurement data — Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement, International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Saint-Cloud

  7. New Brunswick Laboratory (2010) Certificate of Analysis CRM 112-A, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  8. New Brunswick Laboratory (2008) Certificate of Analysis CRM U005-A, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  9. National Bureau of Standards (1985) Standard reference material U030a. National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg

    Google Scholar 

  10. New Brunswick Laboratory (2008) Certificate of Analysis CRM U100, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  11. New Brunswick Laboratory (2008) Certificate of Analysis CRM U200, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  12. New Brunswick Laboratory (2008) Certificate of Analysis CRM U500, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  13. New Brunswick Laboratory (1987) Certificate of Analysis CRM U930, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne

  14. Richter S, Hennessy C, Jakobsson U, Aregbe Y, Hexel C (2022) Re-Certification of the IRMM-183–187 series of uranium nitrate solution reference materials, Publications Office of the European Union

  15. Searle SR, Casella G, McCulloch CE (2006) Variance components. John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  16. Galecki A, Burzykowski T (2013) Linear mixed-effects models using R: a step-by-step approach. Springer, New York City

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Koller M (2016) robustlmm: an R package for Robust estimation of linear mixed-effects models. J Stat Softw 75(6):1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Richter S, Hennessy C, Venchiarutti C, Aregbe Y, Hexel C (2021) Preparation and certification of highly enriched uranium nitrate solutions IRMM-3000 Series, EUR 30740 EN, Publications Office of the European Union

  19. International Organization for Standardization (2015) ISO 13528: Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  20. Richter S, Alonso A, De Bolle W, Kühn HVA, Wellum R, Taylor P (2005) Re-certification of a series of uranium isotope reference materials: IRMM-183, IRMM-184, IRMM-185, IRMM-186 and IRMM 187. Int J Mass Spectrom 247(1–3):37–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the TIMS laboratory analysts Yoshiyasu Kato, Ariana Rugova-Alihajdaraj, Shoichi Saito, Manabu Hagiya and Kenichi Mise who were involved in producing data that have been used in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Safeguards, Office of Safeguards Analytical Services, International Atomic Energy Agency, Friedenstrasse 1, Seibersdorf, 2444, Lower Austria, Austria

    Alexander Venzin, Monika Sturm, Andreas Koepf, Joe Hiess & Sergei Boulyga

Authors
  1. Alexander Venzin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monika Sturm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Koepf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joe Hiess
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sergei Boulyga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander Venzin.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Venzin, A., Sturm, M., Koepf, A. et al. Estimating the capabilities of the TIMS TE analytical technique using random effects models applied to quality control measurements. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 2851–2861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08719-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08719-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation