Zr precipitation kinetics in irradiated fuel dissolution solution by TIMS and ICP-MS: a combined study

Abstract

This study presents the combined analysis of leftover zirconium in irradiated fuel dissolution solution through time. Thermo-ionisation mass spectrometry was used to analyse the kinetics start and final aliquots with uncertainties lower than 3%, while inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for intermediary aliquots. In order to obtain low uncertainties using ICP-MS, dissolution solutions were spiked with lutetium, used as a process tracer, in order to perform a relative analysis. The analytical parameters were optimised and uncertainties were lower than 3% for real nuclear samples. This method shows the input of ICP-MS for concentration evolutions determination.

An isotope dilution mass spectrometry overview: tips and applications for the measurement of radionuclides

“…Such information can be fed back into areas such as the assessment of fuel performance/ qualication, validation of nuclear codes for criticality or for long-term storage of nuclear waste. 31,38,130,214,215 Crucially, these rely on the low measurement uncertainties ID-MS can provide.…”

A combined TIMS and ICP-MS study for Th0.5Np0.5O2 thorium neptunium mixed oxide analysis

“…The reading per replicate was set at 1. The total number of replicates was set at 60 [31]. The measured isotopes were 232 Th and 237 Np.…”