Determination of 236U in environmental samples by high resolution resonance ionization mass spectrometry

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Klaus D.A. Wendt
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2003 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5396052

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) should be developed and applied as a method for isotopic ultra trace determination of the anthropogenic uranium isotope 236U at isotopic abundances down to 10-12 g/g uranium and lower. 236U is produced predominantly by neutron capture of 235U in reactors during nuclear chain reactions. The sensitive determination of 236U requires isotopic selectivities größer als1010 and counting of atoms, prerequisites which can be fulfilled using either RIMS or accelerator mass spectrometry. The determination of 236U-traces is important for monitoring environmental contamination with reactor uranium. After the development of the RIMS technique for this purpose, 236U analysis of samples from areas suffering from reactor accidents (e.g. Belarus and Ukraine regions contaminated during the Chernobyl accident), leakages from nuclear facilities or from use of uranium ammunition is foreseen. Furthermore, the RIMS method should allow the sensitive detection and monitoring of undeclared transport and handling of nuclear fuel material by criminals or terrorists. Also refined studies of radioisotope migration and accumulation in environmetal matrices and bio-medical tissues for radiation hazard estimation in contaminated populated regions will become possible for 236U.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants