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Characterization of a sealed Americium–Beryllium (AmBe) source by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Two Americium–Beryllium neutron sources were dismantled, sampled (sub-sampled) and analyzed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Characteristics such as “age” since purification, actinide content, trace metal content and inter and intra source composition were determined. The “age” since purification of the two sources was determined to be 25.0 and 25.4 years, respectively. The systematic uncertainties in the “age” determination were ±4% 2σ. The amount and isotopic composition of U and Pu varied substantially between the sub-samples of Source 2 (n = 8). This may be due to the physical means of sub-sampling or the way the source was manufactured. Source 1 was much more consistent in terms of content and isotopic composition (n = 3 sub-samples). The Be–Am ratio varied greatly between the two sources. Source 1 had an Am–Be ratio of 6.3 ± 52% (1σ). Source 2 had an Am–Be ratio of 9.81 ± 3.5% (1σ). In addition, the trace element content between the samples varied greatly. Significant differences were determined between Sources 1 and 2 for Sc, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ba and W.

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References

  1. Sommers J, Cummings D, Giglio J, Carney K. “Age” determination of irradiated materials utilizing the 137Cs/137Ba parent daughter relationship via gas pressurized extraction chromatography (GPEC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection (ICP-MS). J Radioanal Nucl Chem. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0210-8

  2. Baum EM, Knox HD, Miller TR (2002) Chart of the nuclides, 16th edn. Knolls Atomic Power, Schenectady, NY

  3. Cummings DG, Sommers JD, Adamic ML, Jimenez M, Giglio JJ, Carney KP, Grimm K (2009, in press) Characterization of sealed radioactive sources: uncertainty analysis to improve detection methods. J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr. Paul Lind for dismantling of the sources and Mr. Jeffrey Berg for the dissolution of source material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID, 83403, USA

    James Sommers, Marcos Jimenez, Mary Adamic, Jeffrey Giglio & Kevin Carney

Authors
  1. James Sommers
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  2. Marcos Jimenez
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  3. Mary Adamic
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  4. Jeffrey Giglio
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  5. Kevin Carney
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey Giglio.

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Sommers, J., Jimenez, M., Adamic, M. et al. Characterization of a sealed Americium–Beryllium (AmBe) source by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282, 929–932 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0189-1

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