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Hobbs KP, French AD, Melby KM, Bylaska EJ, Harouaka K, Cox RM, Arnquist IJ, Beck CL. Assessing Gas-Phase Ion Reactivity of 50 Elements with NO and the Direct Application for 239Pu in Complex Matrices Using ICP-MS/MS. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5807-5814. [PMID: 38573874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the reactivity of metal cations with various reaction gases in inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) is important to determine the best gas to use for a given analyte/interference pair. In this study, nitric oxide (NO) was investigated as the reaction gas following previous experimental designs. The reactions with 50 elements were investigated to examine periodic trends in reactivity, validate theoretical modeling of reaction enthalpies as a method to screen reactant gases, and provide a baseline data set for potential in-line gas separation methods. ICP-MS/MS studies involving actinides are typically limited to Th, U, and Pu, with analyses of Np and Am rarely reported in the literature. To date, only two previous methods have investigated the use of NO in ICP-MS/MS analyses. To showcase the utility of NO, a method was developed to measure 239Pu in the presence of environmental matrix constituent and other actinides, like what could be expected from postdetonation debris, with no chemical separation prior to analysis. 239Pu+ was reacted to form 239Pu16O+, eliminating interferences derived from the sample matrix by measuring the 239Pu+ intensity at m/z = 255 (239Pu16O+). To validate NO for 238U1H+ interference removal in environmental matrices, standard reference materials were diluted to 1 mg/g of solution and spiked to 0.05 pg/g of 239Pu and 1 μg/g 238U (Pu/U = 5 × 10-8). Measured 239Pu concentrations were within 6% of the spiked value. These results demonstrate that reliable 239Pu measurements can be made at levels relevant to nuclear forensics without the need for extensive chemical matrix separation prior to analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirby P Hobbs
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Amanda D French
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Kali M Melby
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Eric J Bylaska
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Khadouja Harouaka
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Richard M Cox
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Isaac J Arnquist
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Chelsie L Beck
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
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2
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Arbova DL, Tolmachev SY, Brockman JD. A multi-collector ICP-MS method for quantification of plutonium, uranium, and americium in hair and nails of occupationally or medically exposed individuals. Talanta 2024; 270:125607. [PMID: 38169274 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The 239Pu, 238U, and 241Am concentrations and 239Pu/240Pu, 235U/238U, and 236U/238U atom ratios were measured in the hair and nail samples using a new method utilized TEVA, UTEVA, and DGA extraction chromatography and multi-collector ICP-MS. Samples were collected from individuals who donated their bodies to the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries. The concentration of 239Pu ranged from 0.22 to 15.8 ng/kg. The 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratios ranged from 0.026 to 0.127 which is consistent with weapons-grade plutonium. Concentration of uranium fell between 1.84 μg/kg and 29.5 μg/kg and 235U/238U ratios ranged from 4.8 × 10-3 to 7.6 × 10-3. Elevated 236U/238U atom ratios were measured in two cases and ranged from 5.0 × 10-6 - 2.4 × 10-5 indicating exposure to spent or reprocessed uranium material. The concentration of 241Am was measured in four hair samples and ranged from 0.02 to 0.21 ng/kg.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Arbova
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - S Y Tolmachev
- United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - J D Brockman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States; Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States.
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Bradley VC, Ticknor BW, Dunlap DR, Zirakparvar NA, Metzger SC, Hexel CR, Manard BT. Microextraction-TQ-ICP-MS for the Direct Analysis of U and Pu from Cotton Swipes. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15867-15874. [PMID: 37801814 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The microextraction sampling technique was integrated with triple quadrupole─inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (TQ-ICP-MS) to directly sample and measure the isotopic compositions of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) from cotton swipes. Once extracted, the U/Pu were directed into the TQ-ICP-MS instrument for isotopic determination. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and helium (He) gases were delivered to a collision reaction cell within the ICP-MS system for ion separation. The CO2 reacts with the U+ forming UO+ which is ultimately separated from the Pu+ ions of interest in the third quadrupole. This study demonstrates direct liquid extraction of U/Pu from a solid surface and subsequent measurement by TQ-ICP-MS in <60 s. Flow rates were optimized (0.3 mL min-1 CO2 and 5 mL min-1 He) in the reaction cell of the ICP-MS system to maximize the Pu signal while minimizing U interferences (i.e., 238U+ tail and 238UH+) at m/z 239. Low levels of Pu (∼2 pg) were deposited on a cotton swipe along with U at concentrations ranging from 20 to 200 ng. The 240Pu/239Pu ratio was measured with <7% relative difference from the certified value at all U concentrations. Major and minor U isotope ratios were also measured with <4% relative difference. This highlights that the microextraction-TQ-ICP-MS method can extract a mixed U/Pu sample directly from a cotton swipe and measure both isotopic systems without chemical separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica C Bradley
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Brian W Ticknor
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Daniel R Dunlap
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - N Alex Zirakparvar
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Shalina C Metzger
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Cole R Hexel
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Benjamin T Manard
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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Gao J, He M, Shen Y, Xu CK, Zhao YG. Comparison of AMS, TIMS, and SIMS techniques for determining uranium isotope ratios in individual particles. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2023; 58:e4905. [PMID: 36775912 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The determination of isotope ratios in individual uranium particles is very important for nuclear safeguards. In this work, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were applied to isotope ratio analysis of individual uranium particles and compared in terms of background, measurement accuracy, and efficiency. Several individual uranium particles (1-7 μm) from certified reference materials were used as samples. The results show that the average values of blank counting rate of 235 U for AMS, FT-TIMS (FT: fission track), SEM-TIMS (SEM: scanning electron microscope), and SIMS were 7.3, 7.8, 2.7 and 2.2 cps, respectively. The relative error of 234 U/235 U and 234 U/236 U isotope ratios of the particles from U200 for AMS were within 10% and 20%, whereas the results of FT-TIMS and SIMS were within 5% and 10%, respectively. The relative error and external precision of 234 U/238 U and 235 U/238 U of the particles from U850 for the method of AMS, SEM-TIMS, and SIMS were within 10% and 5%, respectively. For 236 U/238 U, the average values of the relative error and external precision measured by AMS were within 5%, which measured by SEM-TIMS and SIMS were all within 10%. AMS has advantages in measuring 236 U/238 U. The measurement time of AMS and SEM-TIMS was shorter than that of FT-TIMS and longer than that of SIMS. It is considered that AMS and SEM-TIMS have a certain development prospect, and it is necessary to research deeply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Radiochemistry, Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Ming He
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Radiochemistry, Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Kun Xu
- Department of Radiochemistry, Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Gang Zhao
- Department of Radiochemistry, Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
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Ohno T, Sato N, Shikimori J, Ijichi Y, Fukami Y, Igarashi Y. Temporal change of 236U/ 238U and 235U/ 238U isotopic ratios in atmospheric deposition in Tokyo and Akita from 1963 to 1979. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:151292. [PMID: 34756899 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We examine the temporal changes of 236U/238U and 235U/238U in atmospheric deposition from samples collected in Tokyo and Akita from 1963 to 1979 and elucidate the spatial distribution and historical changes of the anthropogenic sources of uranium in Japan. The 236U/238U ratio of atmospheric deposition in Tokyo peaked in 1963 and again during the 1970s, while the corresponding 235U/238U ratios of atmospheric deposition during the second peak period were lower than that of natural uranium. The 236U/238U ratios of atmospheric deposition in Akita samples peaked in 1963. The 235U/238U ratios in Akita samples were almost identical to that of the natural uranium ratios. These results suggest that the peak of 236U/238U in 1963 corresponds to what is recognized as representative for global fallout. The increase of 236U/238U and the decrease of 235U/238U observed simultaneously in the 1970s indicate that depleted uranium has subsequently been released into the environment around Tokyo. The cumulative deposition density of 236U for atmospheric fallout samples collected in Tokyo from 1968 to 1979 is an order of magnitude larger than that of the global fallout, suggesting that the depleted uranium in the 1970s is a major component of 236U in Tokyo and should be considered as an end-member when using 236U as an environmental tracer in the industrial city. This knowledge can facilitate future research using 236U as an effective environmental tracer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ohno
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro 1-5-1, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan.
| | - Naoki Sato
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro 1-5-1, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Junko Shikimori
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro 1-5-1, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Yuta Ijichi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro 1-5-1, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fukami
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Mejiro 1-5-1, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Igarashi
- Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, 2-1010 Asashiro Nishi, Kumatori, Sennan, Osaka 590-0494, Japan
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First study on 236U in environmental samples from Bangladesh by ICP-MS/MS prior to the operation of its first nuclear power plant. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07931-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Gao J, Zhao YG, He M, Zhao QZ, Shen Y. Determination of minor isotope ratios of individual uranium particles by accelerator mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2021; 56:e4719. [PMID: 33848024 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The determination of uranium isotope ratios in uranium particle is an essential technique in the analysis of environmental samples for nuclear safeguards. At present, mass spectrometry has been widely used to measure isotope ratios of uranium particles. We developed a new analytical method for measuring minor isotope ratios of individual uranium particles directly. The technique includes single particle identification by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), transfer by scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with micromanipulator and isotope ratios analysis with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The minor isotope ratios of individual uranium particles with four isotopic abundances and different sizes from certified reference materials were measured by AMS. The results show that the relative error (RE, i.e., the deviation of measured value from the certified value) of 234 U/235 U and 234 U/236 U isotope ratios was 9.0% and 19.3%, respectively, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was within 9.9% and 16%, respectively. The minimum particle determined was about 2 μm. The method was found to be an alternative analytical means for nuclear safeguards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Radiochemistry, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Gang Zhao
- Department of Radiochemistry, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Ming He
- Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Zhang Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Radiochemistry, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, China
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Shao Y, Yang G, Zhang J, Luo M, Ma L, Xu D. Progress and Application on the Analysis of Anthropogenic Radionuclide 236U. ACTA CHIMICA SINICA 2021. [DOI: 10.6023/a21020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Wang Y, Hou X, Zhang W, Zhang L, Fan Y. Determination of ultra-low 236U in environment samples using ICP-MS/MS measurement and chemical separation. Talanta 2020; 224:121882. [PMID: 33379091 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
236U in the environment mainly originates from human nuclear activities. Based on the unique properties of uranium, 236U can be used as a powerful tracer for investigation of oceanographic and environmental processes. This requires sensitive measuement of 236U in various environmental samples. Due to the ultra-low radioactive level of 236U in the environment, its measurement is only possible by mass spectrometry. Because of the low atomic ratio of 236U/235U down to 10-7-10-5 in the environment, the interferences of 235U1H+ and peak tailings of 235U and 238U are critical challenges in the measurement of 236U by ICP-MS. This work developed a sensitive ICP-MS/MS method for measurement of ultra-low 236U by employing reaction cell technique and sequential quadrupole mass separators. By using 0.6 mL min-1 CO2 - 7 mL min-1 helium as collision/reaction gas to convert U+ and UH+ to UO+, the interferences of UH+ (UOH+/UO+ ratio) were significantly reduced to less than 2.4 × 10-7. A minimum detectable 236U/238U ratio of 3.0 × 10-10 was achieved, which is one order of magnitude better than reported values. By using collision focusing with helium in the reaction cell and APEX sample introduction system, the measurement sensitivity for 236U (236UO+) was improved to 7.5 × 106 cps ppb-1. In combination with an effective chemical separation of uranium from sample matrix and interferences using total borate fusion following extraction chromatography with UTEVA resin, a detection limit of 7.2 × 10-16 g g-1 for 236U was achieved. The developed method was verified by analysis of certified reference materials and by comparison with AMS measurement method. Soil samples collected from Northwest China were successfully analyzed. 236U/238U ratios down to 9 × 10-10 were measured in these samples, and the sources of 236U in different sits were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyun Wang
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an, 710061, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an, 710061, China; Technical University of Denmark, Department of Environment Engineering, Risø Campus, Building 204, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark; CAS Center of Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China.
| | - Weichao Zhang
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Luyuan Zhang
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an, 710061, China; CAS Center of Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Yukun Fan
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an, 710061, China
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