Analysis of solid uranium samples using a small mass spectrometer |
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Affiliation: | 1. CPSE and ThAMeS Multiphase. Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK;2. Laboratory for Advanced Nuclear Energy, Tokyo Tech, Tokyo 2-12-1-N1-6 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Japan |
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Abstract: | A mass spectrometer for isotopic analysis of solid uranium samples has been constructed and evaluated. This system employs the fluorinating agent chlorine trifluoride (ClF3) to convert solid uranium samples into their volatile uranium hexafluorides (UF6). The majority of unwanted gaseous byproducts and remaining ClF3 are removed from the sample vessel by condensing the UF6 and then pumping away the unwanted gases. The UF6 gas is then introduced into a quadrupole mass spectrometer and ionized by electron impact ionization. The doubly charged bare metal uranium ion (U2+) is used to determine the U235/U238 isotopic ratio. Precision and accuracy for several isotopic standards were found to be better than 12%, without further calibration of the system. The analysis can be completed in 25 min from sample loading, to UF6 reaction, to mass spectral analysis. The method is amenable to uranium solid matrices, and other actinides. |
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