Development of an analytical method to identify chemical forms of uranium particles with micro-meter size using micro-Raman spectroscopy

Yomogida, Takumi   ; Esaka, Fumitaka  ; Magara, Masaaki  

Chemical forms of particles in environmental samples give important information on the history of particles. In particular, we can detect the nuclear activities such as refining, conversion and enrichment process by determination of the chemical form of uranium particles. In this study, we developed a micro-Raman spectroscopy technique combined with particle detection by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro manipulation to identify chemical forms of standard uranium particles. The characteristic Raman bands which derive from UO structures were observed in the Raman spectra of a standard uranium particle with a diameter of 2 m.