Analysis of plutonium isotope ratios including Pu/Pu in individual U-Pu mixed oxide particles by means of a combination of alpha spectrometry and ICP-MS
Esaka, Fumitaka ; Yasuda, Kenichiro ; Suzuki, Daisuke ; Miyamoto, Yutaka ; Magara, Masaaki
The isotope ratios of Pu/Pu, Pu/Pu, Pu/Pu, and Pu/Pu were measured for individual Pu and U-Pu mixed oxide particles by a combination of alpha spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As a consequence, we were able to determine the Pu/Pu, Pu/Pu, and Pu/Pu isotope ratios with ICP-MS after particle dissolution and chemical separation of uranium, plutonium and americium with UTEVA resins. Furthermore, Pu/Pu isotope ratios were able to be calculated by using both the Pu/(Pu+Pu) activity ratios that had been measured through alpha spectrometry and the Pu/Pu isotope ratios determined through ICP-MS. Therefore, the combined use of alpha spectrometry and ICP-MS is useful in determining plutonium isotope ratios, including Pu/Pu, in individual U-Pu mixed oxide particles.