PNNL

Abstract

This research demonstrates two methods of quantifying isotope separation efficiency using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. One method measured the accumulated charge on a conductive collection substrate in real-time while the second method performed a chemical dissolution of the substrate with subsequent post-processing and analysis. Our previous results demonstrated and compared these methods with a multi-element standard of stable isotopes. This research applies these methods to quantifying radioactive isotopes utilizing measurements of the stable isotope at the same mass-to-charge ratio. The mass-separated radioactive isotope were fission products produced from thermal neutron irradiation of a highly enriched 235U foil. The two methods are explained and the results of this new separation methodology are compared to available cumulative fission yields.