Characterization and source term assessments of radioactive particles from Marshall Islands using non-destructive analytical techniques
(2006) In Spectrochimica Acta, Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 61. p.971-979- Abstract
- Six plutonium-containing particles stemming from Runit Island soil (Marshall Islands) were characterized by non-destructive analytical and microanalytical methods. Composition and elemental distribution in the particles were studied with synchrotron radiation based micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector and with wavelength dispersive system as well as a secondary ion mass spectrometer were used to examine particle surfaces. Based on the elemental composition the particles were divided into two groups: particles with pure Pu matrix, and particles where the plutonium is included in Si/O-rich matrix being more heterogenously distributed. All of the particles were... (More)
- Six plutonium-containing particles stemming from Runit Island soil (Marshall Islands) were characterized by non-destructive analytical and microanalytical methods. Composition and elemental distribution in the particles were studied with synchrotron radiation based micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector and with wavelength dispersive system as well as a secondary ion mass spectrometer were used to examine particle surfaces. Based on the elemental composition the particles were divided into two groups: particles with pure Pu matrix, and particles where the plutonium is included in Si/O-rich matrix being more heterogenously distributed. All of the particles were identified as nuclear fuel fragments of exploded weapon components. As containing plutonium with low 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio, less than 0.065, which corresponds to weapons-grade plutonium or a detonation with low fission yield, the particles were identified to originate from the safety test and low-yield tests conducted in the history of Runit Island. The Si/O-rich particles contained traces of 137Cs (239 + 240Pu/137Cs activity ratio higher than 2500), which indicated that a minor fission process occurred during the explosion. The average 241Am/239Pu atomic ratio in the six particles was 3.7×10−3 ±0.2×10−3 (February 2006), which indicated that plutonium in the different particles had similar age. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1501314
- author
- Jernström, Jussi ; Eriksson, Mats ; R, Simon ; Gabriele, Tamborini ; Olivier, Bildstein ; Ramon, Carlos-Marquez ; S.R., Kehl ; Hamilton, Terry ; Ranebo, Ylva LU and Betti, Maria
- organization
- publishing date
- 2006
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Synchrotron radiation, SIMS, SEM-EDX-WDX, Source term, Marshall Islands, Radioactive environmental particle
- in
- Spectrochimica Acta, Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy
- volume
- 61
- pages
- 971 - 979
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- other:doi:10.1016/j.sab.2006.09.002
- scopus:33750358344
- ISSN
- 0584-8547
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.sab.2006.09.002
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3a6eae9c-ad4a-4ad6-8c04-2c462efd299e (old id 1501314)
- alternative location
- http://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/321193.pdf
- http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234112850_Published/file/32bfe50f4763f6001e.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 10:05:40
- date last changed
- 2022-03-15 21:11:59
@article{3a6eae9c-ad4a-4ad6-8c04-2c462efd299e,
abstract = {{Six plutonium-containing particles stemming from Runit Island soil (Marshall Islands) were characterized by non-destructive analytical and microanalytical methods. Composition and elemental distribution in the particles were studied with synchrotron radiation based micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector and with wavelength dispersive system as well as a secondary ion mass spectrometer were used to examine particle surfaces. Based on the elemental composition the particles were divided into two groups: particles with pure Pu matrix, and particles where the plutonium is included in Si/O-rich matrix being more heterogenously distributed. All of the particles were identified as nuclear fuel fragments of exploded weapon components. As containing plutonium with low 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio, less than 0.065, which corresponds to weapons-grade plutonium or a detonation with low fission yield, the particles were identified to originate from the safety test and low-yield tests conducted in the history of Runit Island. The Si/O-rich particles contained traces of 137Cs (239 + 240Pu/137Cs activity ratio higher than 2500), which indicated that a minor fission process occurred during the explosion. The average 241Am/239Pu atomic ratio in the six particles was 3.7×10−3 ±0.2×10−3 (February 2006), which indicated that plutonium in the different particles had similar age.}},
author = {{Jernström, Jussi and Eriksson, Mats and R, Simon and Gabriele, Tamborini and Olivier, Bildstein and Ramon, Carlos-Marquez and S.R., Kehl and Hamilton, Terry and Ranebo, Ylva and Betti, Maria}},
issn = {{0584-8547}},
keywords = {{Synchrotron radiation; SIMS; SEM-EDX-WDX; Source term; Marshall Islands; Radioactive environmental particle}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{971--979}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Spectrochimica Acta, Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy}},
title = {{Characterization and source term assessments of radioactive particles from Marshall Islands using non-destructive analytical techniques}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5459219/1501395.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.sab.2006.09.002}},
volume = {{61}},
year = {{2006}},
}