Sensitive U/U Isotopic Analysis of Trace Uranium in Safeguards Environmental Samples Using Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

A sensitive analytical technique was developed for determining a 10 level low U/U ratio using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This analytical technique can determine the subnanogram amount of uranium in safeguards environmental samples. To increase the sensitivity of the U/U ratio, (1) the feed solution was concentrated to one-tenth of that in the conventional method and (2) data acquisition was started from the beginning of the solution uptake until all of the solution was exhausted.