The Collaborative Materials Exercise (CMX) is organized by the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group, with the aim of advancing the analytical capabilities of the participating organizations and providing feedback on the best approaches to a nuclear forensic investigation. Here, model nuclear fuel materials from the 5 CMX iteration were analyzed using a NanoSIMS 50L (CAMECA) in order to examine inhomogeneities in the U/U ratio and trace element abundance within individual, micrometer scale particles. Two fuel pellets were manufactured for the exercise and labelled CMX-5A and CMX-5B. These pellets were created using different processing techniques, but both had a target enrichment value of U/U = 0.01. Particles from these pellets were isolated for isotopic and trace element analysis. Fifteen CMX-5A particles and 20 CMX-5B particles were analyzed, with both sample types displaying inhomogeneities in the U isotopic composition at a sub-micrometer scale within individual particles. Typical particle diameters were ∼1.5 to 41 μm for CMX-5A and ∼1 to 61 μm for CMX-5B. The CMX-5A particles were shown to be more isotopically homogeneous, with a mean U/U atom ratio of 0.0130 ± 0.0066. The CMX-5B particles showed a predominantly depleted mean U/U atom ratio of 0.0063 ± 0.0094, which is significantly different to the target enrichment value of the pellet and highlights the potential variation of U/U in U fuel pellets at the micrometer scale. This study details the successful application of the NanoSIMS 50L in a mock nuclear forensic investigation by optimizing high-resolution imaging for uranium isotopics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b02703 | DOI Listing |
Inorg Chem
January 2025
Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Energy, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo, 2-12-1 N1-32, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.
In their + V and + VI oxidation states, actinide elements (U, Np, and Pu) are commonly encountered in characteristic linear dioxo structures, known as actinyl ions (AnO; An = U, Np, Pu, = 1, 2). A systematic understanding of the structural and redox behavior of AnO/AnO complexes is expected to provide valuable information for controlling the behavior of An elements in natural environments and in nuclear fuel cycles while enabling the development of spintronics and new reactivities that utilize the anisotropic spin of the 5f electrons. However, systematic trends in the behavior of AnO/AnO complexes remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, P.O. Box: 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran.
The research discussed in this paper focused on experimental data using a perforated rotating disc column to determine the factors that impact the distribution of drop sizes. A standard test system was utilized, consisting of zinc ions and D2EHPA extractant. When the rotor speed is increased, a majority of droplets display a smaller range of diameters, primarily because of decreased coalescence and increased breakup effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRadiat Prot Dosimetry
January 2025
Research Center for Technology of Radiation Safety and Metrology, Nuclear Energy Research Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia, Jl. Raya Puspiptek, Muncul, Kec. Setu, Kota Tangerang Selatan, Banten 15310, Indonesia.
Radioactivity concentration in soil was analyzed around the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta along with the adjoining provinces of West Java and Banten, representing one of the most densely populated in Indonesia. Nestled within this area is a nuclear research reactor. The analysis of natural and artificial radioactivity concentrations using a HPGe gamma spectrometry to measure 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in surface soil samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAsia Ocean J Nucl Med Biol
January 2025
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
Objectives: Liver malignancies are among the most prevalent causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Intra-arterial administration of particulates labeled with beta-emitting radionuclides is one of the non-surgical promising modalities for the treatment of liver cancer.
Methods: In this work, the radiation absorbed dose of Ho-hydroxyapatite (Ho-HA) radiopharmaceutical was estimated for adult men based on biodistribution data in normal Wistar rats.
ACS Omega
December 2024
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States.
Plutonium uranium reduction extraction (PUREX) is a liquid-liquid extraction process used to recover plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) from irradiated uranium fuel for various nuclear-related applications. Despite extensive efforts, quantitative prediction of liquid-liquid extraction parameters, i.e.
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