Uranium assay and trace element analysis of the fourth collaborative material exercise samples by the modified Davies-Gray method and the ICP-MS/OES techniques
Journal article, 2018
An international group of laboratories participating in CMX-4 subjected three samples to comparative nuclear forensic analysis using uranium assay and trace element analysis techniques to determine if the samples had similar or different origins. Uranium assay indicated that two pellet samples (ES-2 and ES-3) were nearly pure UO 2 while the black powder sample ES-1 was primarily UO 2 with UO 3 and/or U 3 O 8 forms present as impurities. Trace element analysis by five of the six participating laboratories reported molybdenum concentrations below 10 µg/g U in all of the exercise samples, suggesting the same likely facility of origin for all three samples.
Nuclear forensics
Uranium assay
Impurities
Davies-Gray
ICP-MS
Trace element analysis
Author
Aubrey N. Nelwamondo
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)
Lisa P. Colletti
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Rachel E. Lindvall
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Anna Vesterlund
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material
Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
Ning Xu
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Angela H.J. Tan
DSO National Laboratories
Gary R. Eppich
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Victoria D. Genetti
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Banyana L. Kokwane
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)
Petra Lagerkvist
Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
Boon Kin Pong
DSO National Laboratories
Henrik Ramebäck
Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material
Lav Tandon
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Gert Rasmussen
Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Zsolt Varga
Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Maria Wallenius
Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
0236-5731 (ISSN) 1588-2780 (eISSN)
Vol. 315 2 379-394Subject Categories
Clinical Laboratory Medicine
Specific Languages
Geochemistry
DOI
10.1007/s10967-018-5708-5