Ultrahigh-Resolution MS Skips Separation in Plutonium ID
Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry measured plutonium and samarium isotope ratios in irradiated uranium directly, skipping chemical separation and cutting analysis time while avoiding common interference problems. LCGC International spoke to Clemson University’s Suraj Shrestha and R. Kenneth (Ken) Marcus about the process.
Looking at the ratios of different isotopes turns out to be useful for figuring out important details about plutonium (Pu), such as what type of nuclear reactor was used to make it, how much of the nuclear fuel was used up, and how long ago it was irradiated. This kind of information is incredibly valuable for nuclear forensics work. The problem is that when scientists try to measure these isotope ratios using standard mass spectrometry equipment, different elements can produce nearly identical signals that overlap and interfere with each other, making accurate measurements tricky. Normally, this means samples must go through extensive chemical processing beforehand just to separate out these interfering elements.