Determination of zirconium isotope composition and concentration for nuclear sample analysis using Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (CAT#: STEM-ST-0236-LJX)

Introduction

Determination of zirconium concentration and isotope abundance is important for different applications such as life science, geology, environment, forensics or nuclear field. In nuclear applications, zirconium is used as a construction material in nuclear reactors and is a fission product: the radioactive 93Zr isotope is produced mainly by nuclear fission of uranium-235 in nuclear fuel. During the treatment and recycling of spent nuclear fuel, the first step is the shearing where the fuel rods are cut into small pieces. This step involves the separation between the spent fuel and the cladding material, made of zirconium alloy which has a low solubility in a nitric acid media. The dissolution of the spent fuel is effective in hot nitric acid media. The apparition of dissolution fines, in particular of zirconium and molybdenum, can clog the dissolver during the dissolution process or affect the extraction process. Thus, the accurate zirconium isotope analysis is required to determine its origin (construction material or fission product) and to understand the nuclear processes undertaken.

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Principle Applications Procedure Materials Notes Related Products

Principle

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry exploits the thermochemical reactions that occur in molecules in a sample when they are irradiated by a beam of high energy electrons. This reaction usually takes place at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of ions. The ionized species are accelerated in an electric field and then analyzed by mass spectrometry through the ion-focusing lens of a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer will separate and detect the ions according to their mass and charge.

Applications

For analyzing the distribution of molecules, atoms and molecular groups.
For studying the chemical structure of Earth's minerals and rocks.
For studying the structure and function of biomolecules.
For studying problems in physics.

Procedure

1. The sampling system sends the sample to be analyzed into the ion source;
2. The ion source ionizes the atoms and molecules in the sample into ions;
3. The mass analyzer separates ions according to the size of the mass-charge ratio;
4. The detector is used to measure and record the intensity of the ion current to obtain the mass spectrum.

Materials

• Sample Type:
Zirconium

Notes

Before starting the machine, check whether the water (water cooler), electricity, gas (argon/nitrogen), temperature, humidity, and exhaust air of the instrument are normal.

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