Isotope measurements in uranium using a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS)

A series of measurements were carried out to establish the reliability associated with isotope ratio (235/238) measurements on uranium samples using a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). Figures of merit related to the isotopic measurements were determined using non certified as well as certified materials provided by the New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL). The experimental results showed that repeatability is around 0.5% while reproducibility was calculated as 0.27%. Mass discrimination was determined as 0.03% per mass unit and the system linearity check over five orders of isotope ratios yielded a mass discrimination factor (K factor) of 1.0002±0.0081 (0.81%, 2s). The mean error of measurement obtained from six different certified reference materials was 0.77%.