A review on the mass spectrometric studies of americium: Present status and future perspective

Abstract

The manuscript reviews the various mass spectrometric techniques for analysis and chemical studies of Americium. These methods include thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), and inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for the determination of Am isotope ratios and concentration in nuclear fuel samples of interest in nuclear technology, and in complex biological and environmental samples. Ultra-sensitive mass spectrometric techniques of resonance-ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS), and accelerator-based mass spectrometry (AMS) are also discussed. The novel applications of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) to understand the solution chemistry of Am and other actinides are presented. These studies are important in view of the world-wide efforts to develop novel complexing agents to separate lanthanides and minor actinides (Am, Np, and Cm) for partitioning and transmutation of minor actinides from the point of view of nuclear waste management. These mass spectrometry experiments are also of great interest to examine the covalent character of actinides with increasing atomic number. Studies on gas-phase chemistry of Am and its oxides with Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS), Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), and laser-based experiments with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (R-ToF) are highlighted. These studies are important to understand the fundamental chemistry of 5f electrons in actinides. Requirement of certified isotopic reference materials of Am to improve the accuracy of experimental nuclear data (e.g., the half-life of Am) is emphasized. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev.

Americium isotope analysis by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry using the total evaporation method

“…The measurement of the americium isotope abundances and concentrations are of prime interest for the management of nuclear wastes, for environmental monitoring and for the surveillance of the historical radioactive fallout on site [3]. Also, nuclear data determination (such as half-life of 243 Am, neutron calculation codes qualification to understand physical phenomena in nuclear reactors or transmutation studies) requires isotope ratio determination with low uncertainty, typically lower than 0.1 % [4,5]. The 241 Am analysis is also important for safeguards and nuclear forensics as it acts as a clock for plutonium separation, 241 Am being a descendant of 241 Pu.…”

“…Another advantage of TIMS analyses is the possibility to perform concentration determination by isotope dilution (ID-MS) with low uncertainty, lower than 1 % [10][11][12]. TIMS is frequently used for actinides isotope composition determination [6,7,[13][14][15][16][17][18], in particular for uranium and plutonium [4,5,8,[19][20][21][22]. On the other hand, americium metrological isotope analysis are rare, due to the lack of Certified Reference Material (CRM) [5].…”

“…TIMS is frequently used for actinides isotope composition determination [6,7,[13][14][15][16][17][18], in particular for uranium and plutonium [4,5,8,[19][20][21][22]. On the other hand, americium metrological isotope analysis are rare, due to the lack of Certified Reference Material (CRM) [5]. The CRM scarcity limited the americium measurement accuracy at about 0.5 % and render the method evaluation with TIMS difficult.…”

Exploring the Coordination of Plutonium and Mixed Plutonyl–Uranyl Complexes of Imidodiphosphinates

“…This technique is known to be used in combination with traditional solution chemistry techniques to investigate metal-ligand interactions 45,46 . Actinide species have been studied by ESI-MS since the early 1990's where the use of electrospray mass spectrometry was utilized for the analysis of various elements including U(VI) 47,48 , Th(IV) 49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57 , Am(III) 34,58,59,60,61,62,63 , Np and Pu in different oxidation states 64,65,66,67,68,69,70 . The publications range from species identification to specific interest in the chemistry of the f-elements 59,50,71 through the investigation of competitive interactions 54 .…”

243Am certified reference material for mass spectrometry

“…Among various Am radioactive isotopes, 241 Am and 243 Am are the two important isotopes with half-lives of 432.6 (1.2) [1] and 7345 (28) years (k = 2) [2]. 241 Am and other isotopes of Am are usually determined by alpha-particle and gammaray spectrometry [3,4]. However, mass-spectrometric techniques have become increasingly important in nuclear safeguards and nuclear security, particularly when Am measurement results with lower uncertainty are needed.…”