The urgent requirement for new radioanalytical certified reference materials for nuclear safeguards, forensics, and consequence management

Inn, Kenneth G. W.; Johnson, Charles M; Oldham, Warren J.; Jerome, S.M.; Tandon, Lav; Schaaff, T. Gregory; Jones, Robert L.; Mackney, Daniel; Mackill, P.; Palmer, B.M.; Smith, Donna M.; LaMont, Stephen P.; Griggs, John

doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1972-y

Cited by 41 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, it is important to note that for many nuclear applications matrix-matched certified nuclear reference materials (e.g. spent fuel) are not available [ 1 ].…”

Section: Nuclear Forensics—uranium Isotopic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of certified reference materials is an important pillar for the assessment of the quality of any acquired analytical data. Such matrix-matched certified reference materials that are employed frequently for both quality control and method validation are unfortunately not available for most investigations relevant to the nuclear domain [ 1 ]. Therefore, it would be most helpful to compare the analytical results obtained for a particular instrumental technique, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges in the quality assurance of elemental and isotopic analyses in the nuclear domain benefitting from high resolution ICP-OES and sector field ICP-MS

Krachler

Alvarez‐Sarandes

Winckel

2015

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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Accurate analytical data reinforces fundamentally the meaningfulness of nuclear fuel performance assessments and nuclear waste characterization. Regularly lacking matrix-matched certified reference materials, quality assurance of elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials remains a challenging endeavour. In this context, this review highlights various dedicated experimental approaches envisaged at the European Commission—Joint Research Centre—Institute for Transuranium Elements to overcome this limitation, mainly focussing on the use of high resolution-inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (HR-ICP-OES) and sector field-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). However, also α- and γ-spectrometry are included here to help characterise extensively the investigated actinide solutions for their actual concentration, potential impurities and isotopic purity.

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“…However, it is important to note that for many nuclear applications matrix-matched certified nuclear reference materials (e.g. spent fuel) are not available [ 1 ].…”

Section: Nuclear Forensics—uranium Isotopic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in the quality assurance of elemental and isotopic analyses in the nuclear domain benefitting from high resolution ICP-OES and sector field ICP-MS

Krachler

Alvarez‐Sarandes

Winckel

2015

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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“…In consequence, an emerging need for such materials has been recently expressed by the community involved in nuclear security programs (Inn et al, 2013;Leggitt et al, 2009). In practice, due to the lack of radiochronometry reference materials, already available reference materials certified only for major isotopic composition are used by nuclear forensic laboratories as a pragmatic solution to check the accuracy of their measurement results by comparing them with the reasonably well-known dates of final purification of these materials (usually referred to as assumed or archive ages) (Gaffney et al, 2009;Wallenius et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Varga

Mayer

Bonamici

et al. 2015

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

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The results of a joint effort by expert nuclear forensic laboratories in the area of age dating of uranium, i.e. the elapsed time since the last chemical purification of the material are presented and discussed. Completely separated uranium materials of known production date were distributed among the laboratories, and the samples were dated according to routine laboratory procedures by the measurement of the (230)Th/(234)U ratio. The measurement results were in good agreement with the known production date showing that the concept for preparing uranium age dating reference material based on complete separation is valid. Detailed knowledge of the laboratory procedures used for uranium age dating allows the identification of possible improvements in the current protocols and the development of improved practice in the future. The availability of age dating reference materials as well as the evolvement of the age dating best-practice protocol will increase the relevance and applicability of age dating as part of the tool-kit available for nuclear forensic investigations.

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“…Production of materials that mimic nuclear explosion debris is an area of nuclear forensics that is receiving increased interest for method testing, validation and modelling [9] of the processes such as fractionation that take place in these events. Creation of surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) is challenging, as it is difficult to mimic the extreme thermal and pressure conditions of a nuclear explosion in the laboratory that can reach temperatures [10 7 K and pressures [10 6 Bar.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The preparation of non-radioactive glassy surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) loaded with isotopically altered Xe

Liezers

Carman

Eiden

2015

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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The measurement of Kr and Xe isotope ratios in nuclear explosion debris can be performed requiring little sample preparation. Fragments of debris are simply crushed or heated to release trapped gases Kr and Xe arising from fission product decay. As a suitable test material for this measurement, we have been investigating a method to incorporate isotopically enriched 129 Xe in glassy materials that mimic nuclear explosion debris. The approach used to prepare these materials will be described along with some of the example results obtained.

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The urgent requirement for new radioanalytical certified reference materials for nuclear safeguards, forensics, and consequence management

Cited by 41 publications

References 4 publications

Challenges in the quality assurance of elemental and isotopic analyses in the nuclear domain benefitting from high resolution ICP-OES and sector field ICP-MS

Challenges in the quality assurance of elemental and isotopic analyses in the nuclear domain benefitting from high resolution ICP-OES and sector field ICP-MS

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

The preparation of non-radioactive glassy surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) loaded with isotopically altered Xe

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