Determination of the 243Cm/244Cm Ratio Alpha Spectrometry and Spectral Deconvolution in Environmental Samples Exposed to Discharges from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Mitchell, P.I.; Holm, E.; Vintró, Luis León; Condren, O.M.; Roos, Per

doi:10.1016/s0969-8043(97)10061-6

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…243 Cm can be excluded, since its concentration in the RM at the time of the measurements (November 2014) equal to ∼24 atoms/100g sample is negligible; this value is estimated from the information values for the massic activity of 244 Cm in the RM 32 and from the activity ratio 243 Cm/ 244 Cm measured in sediment samples from the Irish sea. 35 The isotopic ratios for 240 Pu/ 239 Pu = 0.22 ± 0.06 and 242 Pu/ 239 Pu = 0.006 ± 0.001 were measured in the RM IAEA-443; while the first value is consistent with the most recent literature data, 36 the measured 242 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio is lower than the value estimated from the information values for the massic activities of 242 Pu and 239 Pu previously reported in the literature (Table 2). 32,34 Procedural Blanks.…”

Section: ■ Experimental Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels

et al. 2015

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(236)U, (237)Np, and Pu isotopes and (243)Am were determined in ground- and seawater samples at levels below ppq (fg/g) with a maximum sample size of 250 g. Such high sensitivity was possible by using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) at the Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) with extreme selectivity and recently improved efficiency and a significantly simplified separation chemistry. The use of nonisotopic tracers was investigated in order to allow for the determination of (237)Np and (243)Am, for which isotopic tracers either are rarely available or suffer from various isobaric mass interferences. In the present study, actinides were concentrated from the sample matrix via iron hydroxide coprecipitation and measured sequentially without previous chemical separation from each other. The analytical method was validated by the analysis of the Reference Material IAEA 443 and was applied to groundwater samples from the Colloid Formation and Migration (CFM) project at the deep underground rock laboratory of the Grimsel Test Site (GTS) and to natural water samples affected solely by global fallout. While the precision of the presented analytical method is somewhat limited by the use of nonisotopic spikes, the sensitivity allows for the determination of ∼10(5) atoms in a sample. This provides, e.g., the capability to study the long-term release and retention of actinide tracers in field experiments as well as the transport of actinides in a variety of environmental systems by tracing contamination from global fallout.

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Section: ■ Experimental Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels

et al. 2015

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“…Of the total 137 Cs measured in the lichens, only 14 % was attributed to the fallout of the 1950s and 1960s nuclear tests. A report presented by Mitchell et al (1998) of different radionuclides such as curium (Cm) detected in soil and in lichens excluded, however, the relevant data of lichen identity and substrate. Several studies dealt with radionuclides in epigeic lichens providing forage, and in soil, in Nordic countries (Varskog et al 1994;Pálsson et al 1994;Outola et al 2003;Skuterud et al 2005;Dowdall et al 2005;Korobova et al 2007;Lehto et al 2008).…”

Section: The Chernobyl Accidentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lichens and Particulate Matter: Inter-relations and Biomonitoring with Lichens

Garty

Garty-Spitz

2014

Recent Advances in Lichenology

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“…Furthermore, the composition of transuranium elements in Chernobyl fallout was atypical of global fallout due to the high burn-up of reactor fuel. The activities of transuranium isotopes released in the Chernobyl accident were 3 × 10 13 Bq of 238 Pu, 6.3 × 10 13 Bq of 239,240 Pu, 5.2 × 10 15 Bq of 241 Pu, 7.8 × 10 14 Bq of 242 Cm [4] and, based on information from Kashparov et al,4.8 × 10 12 Bq of 241 Am [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chernobylderived production of supported 242 Cm has been found [13,14], as well as 242 Cm production originating from Sellafield and Mayak reprocessing plants [13]. Supported 242 Cm has also been detected in seawater contaminated by close-in fallout from a low-yield nuclear test in 1962 [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Americium and curium deposition in Finland from the Chernobyl accident

Salminen¹,

Paatero²,

Jaakkola³

et al. 2005

Radiochimica Acta

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241 Am and 244 Cm were analysed from peat samples collected in Finland immediately after the Chernobyl accident. The separation method included co-precipitation, anion exchange and extraction chromatography. Activities of 241 Am and 244 Cm were measured by alpha spectrometry. The activity of Chernobyl-derived 241 Am varied between 0.0115 and 9.32 Bq/m 2 and that of 244 Cm from < 0.002 to 1.97 Bq/m 2 (reference date 1.5.1986). The origin of 241 Am in Finland is predominantly from atmospheric nuclear tests. However, the geographical distribution of Chernobylamericium is uneven and depending on a location even 100% of 241 Am in peat originated from the Chernobyl accident. The deposition pattern of Chernobyl-derived 241 Am and 244 Cm resembles that of other refractory nuclides, such as 95 Zr, 141 Ce and 239,240 Pu.

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Determination of the 243Cm/244Cm Ratio Alpha Spectrometry and Spectral Deconvolution in Environmental Samples Exposed to Discharges from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Cited by 13 publications

References 14 publications

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels

Lichens and Particulate Matter: Inter-relations and Biomonitoring with Lichens

Americium and curium deposition in Finland from the Chernobyl accident

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