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Determination of erbium in nuclear fuels by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry and glow discharge mass spectrometry (CAT#: STEM-ST-0240-LJX)

Introduction

A thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) and a laboratory-built glow discharge mass spectrometer (GDMS) have been employed for the determination of the isotopic composition of erbium and its concentration, with respect to uranium, in nuclear fuel samples before irradiation. First, the GDMS results on erbium isotopic composition in erbium metal and erbium oxide samples have been compared with those obtained from TIMS measurements. Then, the isotopic composition of uranium and erbium has been measured by TIMS after dissolution of inactive erbium-doped molybdenum-uranium fuel samples.




Principle

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry exploits the thermochemical reactions that occur in molecules in a sample when they are irradiated by a beam of high energy electrons. This reaction usually takes place at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of ions. The ionized species are accelerated in an electric field and then analyzed by mass spectrometry through the ion-focusing lens of a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer will separate and detect the ions according to their mass and charge.

Applications

For analyzing the distribution of molecules, atoms and molecular groups.
For studying the chemical structure of Earth's minerals and rocks.
For studying the structure and function of biomolecules.
For studying problems in physics.

Procedure

1. The sampling system sends the sample to be analyzed into the ion source;
2. The ion source ionizes the atoms and molecules in the sample into ions;
3. The mass analyzer separates ions according to the size of the mass-charge ratio;
4. The detector is used to measure and record the intensity of the ion current to obtain the mass spectrum.

Materials

• Sample Type:
Erbium

Notes

Before starting the machine, check whether the water (water cooler), electricity, gas (argon/nitrogen), temperature, humidity, and exhaust air of the instrument are normal.
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