Demonstration of a Rapid HPLC-ICPMS Direct Coupling Technique Using IDMS- Project Report: Part II

Researchers working on chemical separations and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry have developed a rapid separation–direct analysis scheme to determine both concentration and isotopics of a suite of elements down to the low picogram level, with the ultimate goal of performing rapid analysis of postdetonation nuclear materials. The second phase in method development has shown that both the sensitivity and stability to achieve the precise, low-level analyses required can be maintained even when present in complex silicon- and uranium-based matrices. The methods analyte list has been expanded to incorporate a number of new analytes, notably the actinides plutonium, americium, curium, neptunium, and thorium and the key fission product zirconium. Key nonnatural fission product isotopic ratios in irradiated highly enriched uranium targets have been successfully measured at the low picogram level. The accuracy of these ratios was confirmed using an isotopic depletion and decay modeling software to within 1–2%.