Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k0-standardised neutron activation analysis

Peter Vermaercke; Fulvio Farina Arboccò; Liesel Sneyers; Alexandre Leal; Michel Bruggeman

doi:10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700

Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis

Peter Vermaercke, Fulvio Farina Arboccò, Liesel Sneyers, Alexandre Leal, Michel Bruggeman

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Multi-elemental analysis of samples containing uranium by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) has been generally known as a problematic task due to the numerous radioisotopes produced from the uranium fission when the sample is irradiated with thermal neutrons. In k₀-standardised NAA (k₀-NAA)it is possible to correct for this effect through the introduction of k₀-fission factors. In this work the aim was to determine the feasibility of k₀-NAA as a screening technique for accurate U and n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U) isotopic ratio determination (we further refer to the technique as k₀-UNAA) and where k₀-UNAA could be positioned versus the other screening techniques. In k₀-UNAA we use an adapted k₀ formalism to determine the n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U)-ratio. Several swipe samples spiked with different isotopic ratio's U were analysed and demonstrate the feasibility of k₀-UNAA as a accurate and reliable screening method for the quantification of environmental samples up to several tens of ng. At these levels the uranium concentration can be quantified with a reasonable uncertainty and reliable n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U) isotopic ratio analysis could also be performed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ANIMMA 2009
Subtitle of host publication	2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700
State	Published - 2009
Event	2009 - ANIMMA : 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications - CEA, Marseille Duration: 7 Jun 2009 → 10 Jul 2009

Publication series

Name	ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications
Publisher	IEEE

Conference

Conference	2009 - ANIMMA
Abbreviated title	ANIMMA
Country/Territory	France
City	Marseille
Period	2009-06-07 → 2009-07-10

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear Energy and Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700License: Unspecified

Cite this

Vermaercke, P., Farina Arboccò, F., Sneyers, L., Leal, A., & Bruggeman, M. (2009). Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis. In ANIMMA 2009: 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications Article 5503700 (ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications). https://doi.org/10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700

Vermaercke, Peter ; Farina Arboccò, Fulvio ; Sneyers, Liesel et al. / Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis. ANIMMA 2009: 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications. 2009. (ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications).

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title = "Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k0-standardised neutron activation analysis",

abstract = "Multi-elemental analysis of samples containing uranium by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) has been generally known as a problematic task due to the numerous radioisotopes produced from the uranium fission when the sample is irradiated with thermal neutrons. In k0-standardised NAA (k0-NAA)it is possible to correct for this effect through the introduction of k0-fission factors. In this work the aim was to determine the feasibility of k0-NAA as a screening technique for accurate U and n(235U)/n(238U) isotopic ratio determination (we further refer to the technique as k0-UNAA) and where k0-UNAA could be positioned versus the other screening techniques. In k0-UNAA we use an adapted k0 formalism to determine the n(235U)/n(238U)-ratio. Several swipe samples spiked with different isotopic ratio's U were analysed and demonstrate the feasibility of k0-UNAA as a accurate and reliable screening method for the quantification of environmental samples up to several tens of ng. At these levels the uranium concentration can be quantified with a reasonable uncertainty and reliable n(235U)/n(238U) isotopic ratio analysis could also be performed.",

keywords = "Environmental monitoring, Illicit trafficking, k-standardisation, Neutron activation analysis, Safeguards, Uranium",

author = "Peter Vermaercke and {Farina Arbocc{\`o}}, Fulvio and Liesel Sneyers and Alexandre Leal and Michel Bruggeman",

year = "2009",

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Vermaercke, P , Farina Arboccò, F , Sneyers, L, Leal, A & Bruggeman, M 2009, Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis. in ANIMMA 2009: 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications., 5503700, ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications, 2009 - ANIMMA , Marseille, France, 2009-06-07. https://doi.org/10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700

Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis. / Vermaercke, Peter ; Farina Arboccò, Fulvio ; Sneyers, Liesel et al.
ANIMMA 2009: 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications. 2009. 5503700 (ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications).

Research output › peer-review

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AU - Vermaercke, Peter

AU - Farina Arboccò, Fulvio

AU - Sneyers, Liesel

AU - Leal, Alexandre

AU - Bruggeman, Michel

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AB - Multi-elemental analysis of samples containing uranium by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) has been generally known as a problematic task due to the numerous radioisotopes produced from the uranium fission when the sample is irradiated with thermal neutrons. In k0-standardised NAA (k0-NAA)it is possible to correct for this effect through the introduction of k0-fission factors. In this work the aim was to determine the feasibility of k0-NAA as a screening technique for accurate U and n(235U)/n(238U) isotopic ratio determination (we further refer to the technique as k0-UNAA) and where k0-UNAA could be positioned versus the other screening techniques. In k0-UNAA we use an adapted k0 formalism to determine the n(235U)/n(238U)-ratio. Several swipe samples spiked with different isotopic ratio's U were analysed and demonstrate the feasibility of k0-UNAA as a accurate and reliable screening method for the quantification of environmental samples up to several tens of ng. At these levels the uranium concentration can be quantified with a reasonable uncertainty and reliable n(235U)/n(238U) isotopic ratio analysis could also be performed.

KW - Environmental monitoring

KW - Illicit trafficking

KW - k-standardisation

KW - Neutron activation analysis

KW - Safeguards

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DO - 10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700

M3 - In-proceedings paper

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T3 - ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications

BT - ANIMMA 2009

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Vermaercke P , Farina Arboccò F , Sneyers L, Leal A, Bruggeman M. Environmental monitoring for safeguards using k₀-standardised neutron activation analysis. In ANIMMA 2009: 2009 1st International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications. 2009. 5503700. (ANIMMA - International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications). doi: 10.1109/ANIMMA.2009.5503700