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Improved protactinium spike calibration method applied to 231Pa–235U age-dating of certified reference materials for nuclear forensics

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Abstract

The application of multiple radiochronometers in a forensic investigation of bulk uranium provides increased confidence for interpreting age-dating results. We have developed a streamlined method for the purification of Pa and Th from bulk uranium and have applied this method in analyzing uranium certified reference materials (CRMs) IRMM-1000 and CRM U100, using the 231Pa–235U and 230Th–234U radiochronometers. Our improved 233Pa spike calibration technique has replaced the time-intensive, conventional calibration using geologic rock standards. Paired Pa–U and Th–U age-dating analyses of CRM U100 produce concordant results. In contrast, analyses of IRMM-1000 demonstrate reproducibly-discordant Th–U and Pa–U age-dates.

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Acknowledgements

This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-CONF-749097.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA, 94551, USA

    Kerri C. Treinen, Amy M. Gaffney, John M. Rolison, Kyle M. Samperton, Kelly C. McHugh, Martha L. Miller & Ross W. Williams

  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA

    Kelly C. McHugh

  3. University of Rochester, 500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA

    Martha L. Miller

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  1. Kerri C. Treinen
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  2. Amy M. Gaffney
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  3. John M. Rolison
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  4. Kyle M. Samperton
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  5. Kelly C. McHugh
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  6. Martha L. Miller
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  7. Ross W. Williams
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Correspondence to Kerri C. Treinen.

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Treinen, K.C., Gaffney, A.M., Rolison, J.M. et al. Improved protactinium spike calibration method applied to 231Pa–235U age-dating of certified reference materials for nuclear forensics. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 209–219 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6149-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6149-x

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