Measurement of 236U in environmental media

被引:90
作者
Hotchkis, MAC [1 ]
Child, D [1 ]
Fink, D [1 ]
Jacobsen, GE [1 ]
Lee, PJ [1 ]
Mino, N [1 ]
Smith, AM [1 ]
Tuniz, C [1 ]
机构
[1] Australian Nucl Sci & Technol Org, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
关键词
AMS; uranium; U-236; isotope ratio; safeguards;
D O I
10.1016/S0168-583X(00)00146-4
中图分类号
TH7 [仪器、仪表];
学科分类号
0804 ; 080401 ; 081102 ;
摘要
The long-lived uranium isotope U-236 (T-1/2 = 23.4 Ma) is produced by U-235 neutron capture and builds up to high levels in nuclear fuel. It has been distributed in the environment as a result of nuclear activities including nuclear explosions, accidents at nuclear plants, dumping of nuclear waste and releases from nuclear facilities. U-236 is a potentially useful tracer of irradiated uranium for nuclear safeguards or other applications, due to its virtual absence in natural samples (U-236:U-238 ratio similar to 10(-10) in uranium ore). We have measured U-236 in soil and sediment reference materials (IAEA 375, 135 and 300) by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The AMS system on the ANTARES accelerator has been upgraded to make such measurements possible. The system, including sample preparation procedures, is described and the results discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. AU rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:659 / 665
页数:7
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