Applicability of Raman spectroscopy as a tool in nuclear forensics for analysis of uranium ore concentrates

Abstract

In the present study, the suitability of Raman spectroscopy for nuclear forensics is proven by a systematic investigation of laboratory-prepared synthetic and industrial uranium ore concentrate (UOC) samples, of different origin and with wide range of impurity content. Besides the identification of the compound type, the identification of process-related impurities observed in these samples is reported for the first time. Both handheld and laboratory Raman spectrometers were used in the measurements. The ability to measure different UOCs and the sufficient sensitivity of the handheld device demonstrate its usefulness in nuclear safeguards and nuclear security applications. Even more importantly in such a context, the likely identity of process-related impurities could be verified by Raman Spectroscopy in the present work, allowing to draw conclusions on the process history of the sample.

Nuclear Forensic Science: Analysis of Nuclear Material Out of Regulatory Control

“…Applications of Raman, infrared, and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to UOC samples have also been reported (Hausen 1998, Lin et al 2013. These techniques yield a set of parameters that are characteristic of the material and its history.…”

“…Because NIR is a nondestructive technique, it appears especially promising for nuclear forensics applications in which the quantity of the sample is limited. Raman spectroscopy yields information similar to that derived from the other spectroscopic techniques, but because it can be achieved with handheld and field-deployable instrumentation, it could potentially be a highly useful nuclear forensics tool for rapid process identification (Lin et al 2013).…”

Recent Advances in Nuclear Forensic Chemistry

“…41 This method is well-described for IR spectroscopy by Varga and co-workers 49 and for Raman spectroscopy by Lin and co-workers. 50 Different compositions of uranium oxide, such as UO 2 and U 3 O 8 , can be readily distinguished by IR spectroscopy, providing information about the processing history of the material (Figure 3). 51 IR spectroscopy is also used within nuclear forensics to characterize collateral evidence accompanying seized nuclear materials.…”

“…1 Hand-held Raman spectrometers have also become readily available, allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or law enforcement personnel to rapidly and nondestructively acquire chemical data from their surroundings. 50 Prominent advances in Raman and IR microanalyses have enabled detailed chemical fingerprinting of nanometer-sized samples, greatly expanding the microanalytical toolkit available to nuclear forensic scientists. 52−56 Atomic force microscopy coupled to IR spectroscopy (AFM-IR) is a recent technique that uses a cantilever tip to record laser-excited vibrations in molecules, bypassing the diffraction limit of infrared light.…”

Validation of reference materials for uranium radiochronometry in the frame of nuclear forensic investigations

“…Numerous characteristics (so-called signatures) of the material can be used for such purpose, such as the isotopic composition of U, Pb or Sr, elemental impurities, trace-level radionuclide content, crystal structure or anionic residues (Keegan et al, 2008;Lin et al, 2013;Mayer et al, 2005;Schwantes et al, 2009;Varga et al, 2009). Besides these parameters, the elapsed time since the last chemical purification of the material (commonly referred to as the "age" of the material) can also be measured for radioactive (nuclear) materials (Pointurier et al, 2013;Varga and Surányi, 2007;Wallenius et al, 2002;Williams and Gaffney, 2011).…”