6533b835fe1ef96bd129e981

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Isotope selective ultratrace analysis of plutonium by resonance ionisation mass spectrometry

Gerd PasslerJens Volker KratzPeter KunzStefan BurgerRazvan Aurel BudaNorbert TrautmannG. HuberChristoph Lierse Von GostomskiAriane RemmertHorst Geckeis

subject

Detection limitRadionuclideIsotopeRadiochemistryAnalytical chemistryResonancechemistry.chemical_elementMass spectrometryPlutoniumIsotope separationlaw.inventionchemistrylawDepleted uranium

description

Abstract Resonance ionisation mass spectrometry (RIMS) is a sensitive and selective method for isotopically resolved ultratrace analysis of long-lived radionuclides. For the routine analysis of plutonium three titanium–sapphire lasers pumped by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser in combination with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer are used. The detection limit of this system is as low as 106–107 atoms for the plutonium isotopes 238Pu to 244Pu. The RIMS technique was applied to investigate the isotopic composition and the content of plutonium in a depleted uranium penetrator as used during the Balkan conflict delivering important information on the origin of the depleted uranium in this type of ammunition. Furthermore, groundwater samples from an in-situ experiment performed at the Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland, have been analysed with the aim to study the migration behaviour of plutonium under natural conditions.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2006-01-01
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1569-4860(05)08046-0