Measurement of cesium isotopic ratio by thermal ionization mass spectrometry for neutron capture reaction studies on Cs

Shibahara, Yuji*; Nakamura, Shoji; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Fukutani, Satoshi*; Kimura, Atsushi; Iwamoto, Osamu

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 325(1), p.155 - 165, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07198-2

The measurements of isotopic ratios of Cs samples by thermal ionization mass spectrometry were performed for the analysis of their samples used to evaluate nuclear data obtained for Cs. To obtain a high intensity and stable ion beam, the effects of additive agents on the ionization of Cs were examined. The effect of silicotungstic acid on the ionization of Cs was the largest among the additive agents studied in the present study, while the silicotungstic acid also showed the largest isobaric interference of polyatomic ions. It was demonstrated that as small as 210 g of a Cs sample was sufficient to achieve the analytical precision required to measure the Cs/Cs ratio in the case where an additive agent of TaO/glucose was employed. After examining of the analytical conditions, such as the interference effect due to Ba, the measurements of the isotopic ratios of two Cs samples used in our study using TIMS were conducted, and it was discussed how much the ratios contributed to evaluation of the neutron capture cross-section of Cs.

Cesium concentrations in various environmental media at Namie, Fukushima

Hegeds, M.*; Shiroma, Yoshitaka*; Iwaoka, Kazuki*; Hosoda, Masahiro*; Suzuki, Takahito*; Tamakuma, Yuki*; Yamada, Ryohei; Tsujiguchi, Takakiyo*; Yamaguchi, Masaru*; Ogura, Koya*; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 323(1), p.197 - 204, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06942-7

The radioactivity of cesium in the water and sediments of two major rivers was measured along with airborne radioactivity in Namie Town, after the recent partial lift on the evacuation order in 2017. The observed concentrations were up to 384 11 mBq/L for Cs in unfiltered water and 1.28 0.09 mBq/m for Cs in air, while the sediment had a maximum of 44900 23.4 Bq/kg for Cs. The Cs/Cs ratios indicate the main origin of the cesium in the sediment to be Unit 1 in good agreement with previous reports on the accident.

Repeatability and reproducibility of measurements of low dissolved radiocesium concentrations in freshwater using different pre-concentration methods

Kurihara, Momo*; Yasutaka, Tetsuo*; Aono, Tatsuo*; Ashikawa, Nobuo*; Ebina, Hiroyuki*; Iijima, Takeshi*; Ishimaru, Kei*; Kanai, Ramon*; Karube, Jinichi*; Konnai, Yae*; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 322(2), p.477 - 485, 2019/11

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06696-2

We assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of methods for determining low dissolved radiocesium concentrations in freshwater in Fukushima. Twenty-one laboratories pre-concentrated three of 10 L samples by five different pre-concentration methods (prussian-blue-impregnated filter cartridges, coprecipitation with ammonium phosphomolybdate, evaporation, solid-phase extraction disks, and ion-exchange resin columns), and activity of radiocesium was measured. The z-scores for all of the Cs results were within 2, indicating that the methods were accurate. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) indicating the variability in the results from different laboratories were larger than the RSDs indicating the variability in the results from each separate laboratory.

Optimization of an isothermal gas-chromatographic setup for the chemical exploration of dubnium (Db, Z = 105) oxychlorides

Chiera, N. M.; Sato, Tetsuya; Tomitsuka, Tomohiro; Asai, Masato; Ito, Yuta; Shirai, Kaori*; Suzuki, Hayato; Tokoi, Katsuyuki; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Tsukada, Kazuaki; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 320(3), p.633 - 642, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06505-w

An isothermal gas-chromatographic (IGC) device has been developed and tested for on-line gas phase studies of volatile oxychlorides of short-lived group-5 transition metals. Radioisotopes of niobium and tantalum, produced in nuclear fusion evaporation reactions, are directly flushed into the IGC setup by an inert gas-jet. Oxychloride compounds are formed by the addition of SOCl and O. Parameters influencing the formation and transport of NbOCl and TaOCl are investigated. For nuclides with half-lives () of about 30 s, an overall efficiency of 7% is obtained, rendering the IGC setup suitable for the chemical exploration of Db( = 34s).

Secondary radiocesium contamination of agricultural products by resuspended matter

Nihei, Naoto*; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Okumura, Taiga*; Tanoi, Keitaro*; Iijima, Kazuki; Kogure, Toshihiro*; Nakanishi, Tomoko*

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 318(1), p.341 - 346, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6063-2

Am, Cm recovery from genuine HLLW by extraction chromatography

Watanabe, So; Sano, Yuichi; Kofuji, Hirohide; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Shibata, Atsuhiro; Nomura, Kazunori

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 316(3), p.1113 - 1117, 2018/06

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5853-x

Overall approaches and experiences of first-time participants in the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group's Fourth Collaborative Material Exercise (CMX-4)

Ho, D. M. L.*; Nelwamondo, A. N.*; Okubo, Ayako; Ramebck, H.*; Song, K.*; Han, S.-H.*; Hancke, J. J.*; Holmgren, S.*; Jonsson. S.*; Kataoka, Osamu; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 315(2), p.353 - 363, 2018/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5677-0

The Fourth Collaborative Material Exercise (CMX-4) of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) registered the largest participation for this exercise in nuclear forensics, with seven of the 17 laboratories participating for the first time. In this paper, participants from five of the first-time laboratories shared their individual experience in this exercise, from preparation to analysis of samples. The exercise proved to be highly useful for testing procedures, repurposing established methods, exercising skills, and improving the understanding of nuclear forensic signatures and their interpretation trough the post-exercise review meeting.

Production of iodine radionuclides using Li ion beams

Nishinaka, Ichiro*; Yokoyama, Akihiko*; Washiyama, Koshin*; Makii, Hiroyuki; Hashimoto, Kazuyuki*

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 314(3), p.1947 - 1965, 2017/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5525-2

Production cross sections of iodine, tellurium and antimony radionuclides in the 24-59 MeV Li + Sn reaction have been measured by the conventional stacked foil technique with -ray spectrometry. Excitation functions of the production cross sections were compared with a statistical model calculation. The contributions of complete and incomplete fusion in the production of observed radionuclides are discussed from the view points of production routes in the nuclide chart and decays for iodine, tellurium and antimony nuclides. The integral yields of I were deduced from the calculated excitation functions in the Li induced reactions on Sn isotopes in view of the production of medically important I. The results are discussed by comparing with literature values in the other reactions.

Sources of Cs fluvial export from a forest catchment evaluated by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic characterization of organic matter

Muto, Kotomi; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko; Koarashi, Jun; Takeuchi, Erina; Nishimura, Shusaku; Tsuzuki, Katsunori; Matsunaga, Takeshi*

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 314(1), p.403 - 411, 2017/10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5350-7

Fluvial export of particulate and dissolved Cs was investigated to reveal its sources and transfer mechanisms in a broadleaved forest catchment using a continuous collection system. The finest size fraction ( 75m), consisting of decomposed litter and surface mineral soil, was the dominant fraction in the particulate Cs load, although the contribution of coarser size fractions increased during high water discharge in 2014. The dissolved Cs originated from the decomposition of Cs-contaminated litter. Temporal changes in Cs distribution in the litter-mineral soil system indicated that the dissolved Cs load will be moderated in several years, while particulate Cs load has the potential to continue for a long time.

Separation of Zr in the rubble waste generated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Shimada, Asako; Kameo, Yutaka

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 311(3), p.1613 - 1618, 2017/03

AA2016-0191.pdf:0.23MB

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5126-5

Separation method of Zr using trans uranium resin (TRU resin) was developed. Approximately 100% of Zr, Nb, Bi, Th, and U and a part of Mo and Hg were extracted on the TRU resin from 3 M HNO solution and separated from Li, Be, Mg, Al, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr,Ag, Cd, In, Cs, Ba. Approximately 100% of Zr, Nb, and U were striped from the TRU resin with 0.01 M HF and 10% of Mo, 7.1% of Hg, 77% of Bi, and 20% of Th were also included in the stripping solution. In order to measure Zr with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Zr has to be separated from Nb and Mo to avoid isobaric interference. Therefore, further purification of Zr using tetra valent actinide resin (TEVA resin) was applied. The developed method was evaluated with the simulated rubble sample solution. Although a part of Zr was eluted during sample loading, most of Zr was extracted on the TRU resin and separated major elements of the rubble sample. Finally, Zr was separated from Nb and Mo with the TEVA resin.