Skip to main content
EU Science Hub
News article24 March 2021

New research on uranium micrometre-sized particles for nuclear safeguards and security

uranium_particle_micro-manipulations_under_optical microscope for mass spectrometry analysis.png
Uranium particle micro-manipulations under optical microscope for mass spectrometry analysis
© EU, 2021

A joint JRC-IAEA research project on the determination of picogram amounts of uranium in micrometre-sized particles for nuclear safeguards and security purposes was recently published.

The JRC – in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency-Safeguards Analytical Service (IAEA-SGAS, Seibersdorf/Austria) quantified by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry picogram amounts (i.e. 10-12 g) of uranium in monodispersed micrometre-sized particles in a candidate particle reference material, to improve the analytical methods used in the field of particle analysis in nuclear safeguards and security.

Uranium particles were transferred from a substrate to an instrument for isotope dilution analysis, using optical microscopy. The uranium amount per particle was determined using Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) and Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). This was the first application of combining optical microscopy, TIMS and MC-ICP-MS in particle analysis.

This collaborative work between the JRC and the IAEA-SGAS is showcased as a full article in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Issue 3, 2021.

Both mass spectrometry techniques were shown to be highly suitable for quantification of picogram amounts of uranium in particle analysis. Consequently, the candidate particle reference material was certified for uranium mass per particle and is now commercially available as IRMM-2329P.

It was as well, successfully used as test sample in the proficiency test NUSIMEP-9 organised for the IAEA Network of Analytical Laboratories.

Related Content

CERTIFICATION REPORT: Preparation and Certification of the Uranium Oxide Microparticles IRMM-2329P

NUSIMEP-9 Proficiency Test on Uranium Isotope Amount Ratios and Uranium Mass in Uranium Micro-Particles

Details

Publication date
24 March 2021