Sensitive U/U isotopic analysis of trace uranium in safeguards environmental samples using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Tomita, Jumpei  ; Tomita, Ryohei ; Suzuki, Daisuke   ; Yasuda, Kenichiro   ; Miyamoto, Yutaka   

A sensitive analytical technique was investigated in order to determine 10 order of U/U ratio in the sub-ng of uranium using a multi-collector ICP-MS. First, the solution volume was concentrated to one tenth to obtain higher intensities. Next, data acquisition was started from the beginning of the solution uptake and continued until all solution was exhausted. Taking advantage of multi-collector measurement, all data were used with excepting the portion affected by air mixing at the beginning and end of sample introduction. The isotope ratios were calculated from the total counts of each isotope. This technique was applied to U isotope standard (IRMM-184) to measure the 10 order of U/U ratio in the sub-ng of uranium. Measured values were in good agreement with the certified value within the uncertainity (=2). The uncertainties obtained with this new technique (32% on average) were revised to be 10 times smaller than those obtained with the conventionalmethod.