Source term identification of environmental radioactive Pu/U particles by their characterization with non-destructive spectrochemical analytical techniques

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 455 - 469
• Main Authors: Eriksson, M., Osán, J., Jernström, J., Wegrzynek, D., Simon, R., Chinea-Cano, E., Markowicz, A., Bamford, S., Tamborini, G., Török, S., Falkenberg, G., Alsecz, A., Dahlgaard, H., Wobrauschek, P., Streli, C., Zoeger, N., Betti, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30-04-2005
• Subjects: Environmental radioactive microparticles; Spectrochemistry; Synchrotron radiation techniques; Synchrotron radiation techniques; Spectrochemistry; Environmental radioactive microparticles
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2005.02.023

Six radioactive particles stemming from Thule area (NW-Greenland) were investigated by gamma-ray and L X-ray spectrometry based on radioactive disintegration, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, synchrotron radiation based techniques as microscopic X-ray fluorescence, microscopic X-ray absorption near-edge structure (μ-XANES) as well as combined X-ray absorption and fluorescence microtomography. Additionally, one particle from Mururoa atoll was examined by microtomography. From the results obtained, it was found out that the U and Pu were mixed in the particles. The U/Pu intensity ratios in the Thule particles varied between 0.05 and 0.36. The results from the microtomography showed that U/Pu ratio was not homogeneously distributed. The
241Am/
238
+
239
+
240
Pu activity ratios varied between 0.13 and 0.17, indicating that the particles originate from different source terms. The oxidation states of U and Pu as determined by μ-XANES showed that U(IV) is the preponderant species and for Pu, two types of particles could be evidenced. One set had about 90% Pu(IV) while in the other the ratio Pu(IV)/Pu(VI) was about one third.