Radioactive certified reference materials

Watanabe, Kazuo

Bunseki, 2010(7), p.349 - 350, 2010/07

https://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/10026787382

Outline of radioactive certified reference materials (CRM) for the analysis of nuclear materials and radioactive nuclides were described. The nuclear fuel CRMs are supplied by the three institutes: NBL in the US, CETAMA in France and IRMM in Belgium. For the RI CRMs, the Japan Radioisotope Association is engaged in activities concerning supply. The natural-matrix CRMs for the analysis of trace levels of radio-nuclides are prepared and supplied by NIST in the US and the IAEA.

Recent progress of analytical methods of spent nuclear fuel, Review

Yoshida, Zenko; Watanabe, Kazuo; Ito, Mitsuo; Ueno, Takashi; Takeshita, Hidefumi

JAEA-Review 2008-062, 34 Pages, 2009/01

JAEA-Review-2008-062.pdf:4.07MB

Analytical methods for the spent nuclear fuel (SF) have been greatly innovated recently. This methodological innovation is mainly caused by rapid and remarkable progress of induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) which is utilized for the isotopic analysis of actinoid elements (U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm) and fission product elements in the SF samples. The quantity of the objective element as well as the volume of the sample solution needed for the ICP-MS measurement are, in principle, much less than those required for the measurement by other analytical methods. ICP-MS makes it possible to reduce the radiation dose of the operator and to minimize the amount of the radioactive wastes generated from the analytical work. For the precise and accurate isotopic analysis of the objective element in the SF sample by mass spectrometry, the interfering element having isobars needs to be separated prior to the measurement. This review highlights the development of the separation methods and isotopic analysis methods for the analysis of the SF based on more than 50 recent publications and the future problems to be solved and prospects are discussed.

Resonance absorption spectroscopy for laser-ablated lanthanide atom, 1; Optimized experimental conditions for isotope-selective absorption of gadolinium (Contract research)

Miyabe, Masabumi; Oba, Masaki; Iimura, Hideki; Akaoka, Katsuaki; Maruyama, Yoichiro; Wakaida, Ikuo; Watanabe, Kazuo

JAEA-Research 2008-056, 24 Pages, 2008/06

JAEA-Research-2008-056.pdf:5.1MB

For remote isotope analysis of low-decontaminated TRU fuel, we are developing an analytical technique on the basis of the resonance absorption spectroscopy for the laser-ablation plume. To improve isotopic selectivity and detection sensitivity of this technique, we measured absorption spectra of Gd atom with various conditions. As a result, high resolution spectrum was obtained from the observation of slow component of the plume produced under low-pressure rare-gas ambient. The observed narrowest linewidth of about 0.85 GHz was found to be close to the Doppler width estimated for Gd atom of room temperature. Furthermore, relaxation rate of higher meta-stable state was found to be faster than that of ground state, suggesting that use of the transition arising from ground state or lower meta-stable state is preferable for highly sensitive isotope analysis.

Application of Inductively coupled plasma Mass Spectrometry to the determination of uranium isotope ratios in individual particles for nuclear safeguards

Zhang, X. Z.*; Esaka, Fumitaka; Esaka, Konomi; Magara, Masaaki; Sakurai, Satoshi; Usuda, Shigekazu; Watanabe, Kazuo

Spectrochimica Acta, Part B, 62(10), p.1130 - 1134, 2007/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2007.06.013

The capability of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of uranium isotope ratios in individual particles was determined. For this purpose, we developed an experimental procedure including single particle transfer with a manipulator, chemical dissolution and isotope ratio analysis. As the result, the U/U isotope ratio for the particle with the diameter between 0.5 and 3.9 m was successfully determined with the deviation from the certified ratio within 1.8%. The developed procedure was successfully applied to the analysis of a simulated environmental sample prepared from a mixture of indoor dust (NIST SRM 2583) and uranium particles (NBL CRM U050, U350 and U950a). From the results, the proposed procedure was found to be an alternative analytical tool for nuclear safeguards.

Effects of Aliquat 336 concentration and solvent composition on amount of Aliquat 336 impregnated and liquid permeability of Aliquat 336-impregnated porous hollow-fiber membrane

Asai, Shiho; Watanabe, Kazuo; Sugo, Takanobu*; Saito, Kyoichi*

Maku, 32(3), p.168 - 174, 2007/05

https://doi.org/10.5360/membrane.32.168

no abstracts in English

Particle isolation for analysis of uranium minor isotopes in individual particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry

Esaka, Fumitaka; Esaka, Konomi; Lee, C. G.; Magara, Masaaki; Sakurai, Satoshi; Usuda, Shigekazu; Watanabe, Kazuo

Talanta, 71(3), p.1011 - 1015, 2007/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.05.091

A new technique to measure U/U and U/U isotope ratios for individual particles in safeguards environmental samples was developed, which was a combination of particle isolation under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). In order to verify the effectiveness of the technique, the U/U and U/U isotope ratios were measured for individual particles in a simulated environmental sample containing uranium standard (NIST CRM U010) and Pb metal particles. The deviations of the U/U and U/U isotope ratios from the certified values increased with increasing the signal intensity ratio of Pb to U, which was due to the interferences by Pb molecular ions. By the isolation of individual uranium particles prior to SIMS analysis, the interferences were eliminated. The effectiveness of the technique was also confirmed by the analysis of a real sample taken at a laboratory in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

Single particle transfer for quantitative analysis with total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Esaka, Fumitaka; Esaka, Konomi; Magara, Masaaki; Sakurai, Satoshi; Usuda, Shigekazu; Watanabe, Kazuo

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 251(1), p.218 - 222, 2006/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2006.05.030

Individual Cu particles were transferred, with a manipulator attached to a scanning electron microscope, onto individual Si carriers for subsequent quantitative analysis by means of total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. By applying an internal standard to the carriers prior to the particle transfer, the amounts of Cu were successfully determined for the particles with diameters between 3.04 and 8.84 micrometer. The deviations of the measured values from the calculated ones were within 10%. However, the deviations were more than 33% if particle diameters were greater than 10.17 micrometer. This suggests that in such a case the fluorescent X-ray is not emitted from all parts of the particle. Even if particle diameters were greater than 10.17 micrometer, the amounts of Cu could be determined with the deviations within 9% when the particles were dissolved with HNO solution. This technique was also successfully applied to the measurement of individual brass particles.

Development of frequency stabilized diode laser based on a spectroscopic study on magnetically induced circular dichroism of atomic rubidium

Miyabe, Masabumi; Kato, Masaaki; Oba, Masaki; Wakaida, Ikuo; Watanabe, Kazuo; Wendt, K.*

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part 1, 45(5A), p.4120 - 4122, 2006/05

https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.45.4120

We developed a frequency-stabilized diode laser using magnetically induced circular dichroism. From a spectroscopic study on Rb- line, the most stable Doppler-broadened and Doppler-free lines were determined to be the transition from g=2 ground state of Rb and the crossover resonance from g=3 ground state to e=3 and 4 excited states of Rb respectively. Furthermore, we measured the fluctuation of the laser locked to the Doppler-free line to be 50kHz/8hour and thus revealed the applicability to a several-hours stabilization. The developed laser can be used as a reference laser for frequency stabilization system for multiple tunable lasers for RIMS analysis.

Influence of uranium enrichment on the etching rate of polycarbonate fission track detector containing uranium particles

Lee, C. G.; Iguchi, Kazunari; Esaka, Fumitaka; Magara, Masaaki; Sakurai, Satoshi; Watanabe, Kazuo; Usuda, Shigekazu

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 245(2), p.440 - 444, 2006/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2005.11.002

The etching rates of fission track detectors made of polycarbonate containing uranium particles were measured after thermal neutron irradiation with fluence of 810 n/cm, in order to study the influence of uranium enrichment on the etching rate that was calculated from the weight loss by etching. There is a strong correlation between the etching rate of detector and the enrichment E of uranium particle: the former increases as the latter increases. Particularly, the etching rate per particle was proportional to E rather than E, which is probably due to the overlapping of fission tracks. The etching behaviors of detector revealed that the existence of two different etching rate regions, a nonlinear region in the beginning of etching process and a subsequent constant region, which was explained as the opening of fission tracks and the broadening of opened tracks, respectively.

Determination of ionization potential of calcium by high-resolution resonance ionization spectroscopy

Miyabe, Masabumi; Geppert, C.*; Kato, Masaaki; Oba, Masaki; Wakaida, Ikuo; Watanabe, Kazuo; Wendt, K. D. A.*

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 75(3), p.034302_1 - 034302_10, 2006/03

https://doi.org/10.1143/JPSJ.75.034302

High-resolution resonance ionization spectroscopy has been utilized to determine a precise ionization potential of Ca. Three-step resonance excitation with single-mode extended cavity diode lasers populates long and unperturbed Rydberg series of 4snp (1P1) and 4snf (1F3) states in the rage of n=20-150. By using an extended Ritz formula for quantum defect, the series convergence limit has been determined to be 49305.9240 (20) cm with the accuracy improved one order of magnitude higher than previously reported ones.