SinS - Abstract

Abstract Information :

The easy incorporation of certain radionuclides into the biosphere renders their determination a key issue in nuclear decommissioning. The classification and quantitation of decommissioning waste materials can be challenging especially if the sample is complex. High throughput elemental analysis techniques such as inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) often lack the sensitivity and selectivity required for some radionuclides such as 90Sr. Collinear resonance ionisation spectroscopy (CRIS) offers a solution combining high resolution spectroscopy with high sensitivity ion detection. Lasers are used to probe the hyperfine structure of the atom or ion of interest, initially employed at CERN to determine the fundamental properties of exotic nuclei. Results published clearly demonstrate isotopic selectivity and detection without the need for mass separation post-ionisation using CRIS, this is made possible due to the kinematic shift when ionising accelerated atomic beams. The on-line hyphenation of ICP-MS to CRIS offers a novel analytical technique (ICP-MS-CRIS) that combines a routine industry standard inlet with state-of-the-art high-resolution spectroscopy to suppress isobaric interference without the need for a reaction cell. Mass selected ion beams from a quadrupole based ICP-MS are bunched and ejected at high energy (~5 keV) collinearly with respect to the laser beams The development of ICP-MS-CRIS allows the rapid quantitation of 90Sr and offers a strategic advantage in terms of understanding its mobility, diminution and control within the environment, this has the potential to reduce analysis times from ~30 days to less than 30 minutes. The universal benefits of CRIS lies in the fact that it can be applied to any element on the periodic table with unrivalled sensitivity and selectivity.