This study presents the development and the comparison of high accuracy methods for uranium isotope determination by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Two methods for uranium minor isotope ratio determination were compared in term of accuracy, analysable quantity, analysis time and versatility: the total evaporation and the classical method with multi-dynamic sequences. The mathematical correction of the abundance sensitivity and the detector calibration within the classical method helps decreasing the uncertainties and the biases compared to the total evaporation method. This comparative study was conducted within the framework of the "2017 Nuclear Material Round Robin" participation organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
This study compares the two analytical methods for uranium concentration determination with high accuracy in uranium pellet: K-edge densitometer (KED) and the isotope dilution with Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry measurements (ID-TIMS). Both techniques are compared in terms of time, generated radioactive effluent, simplicity, uncertainty estimation and detection limit. ID-TIMS shows lower detection limit and uncertainties than KED. However, the KED analysis time is shorter and generates less effluent. Both techniques were used for metrological analysis of uranium concentration in nuclear materials. The optimization of sample spike mixture isotope ratio for ID-TIMS to decrease uncertainties is also discussed.
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