Isotope ratio measurement of uranium in safeguards environmental samples by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Abstract

In order to measure isotope ratio of uranium in safeguards environmental samples with ICP-MS precisely, production of polyatomic ions of IrAr, PtAr and AuAr was measured and mass bias of ICP-MS is investigated by using isotopic standards of uranium and lead. The intensities of IrAr, PtAr and AuAr relative to the atomic ions were found to be 1.8 × 10-6, 1.6 × 10-5 and 4.1 × 10-5, respectively. The production of 193Ir40Ar is too small to interfere with the measurement of 233U, if the concentration of Ir is the same level as that of 233U. However, there is possibility that the presence of Pt and Au interferes with the measurement of minor isotopes of uranium and 237Np. On the other hand, the mass biases of 235U/238U and 208Pb/206Pb were measured with the parameter of 238U16O/238U. Since unexpected change of the mass bias during measurements causes frequently erroneous results, the monitoring of 238U16O/238U is effective for the precise isotope ratio measurement.