Electrothermal vaporization as a new method for pre-inspection check samples

Abstract

The use of electrothermal vaporization (ETV) has not been readily applied to nuclear safeguards or pre inspection check (PIC) sample analysis, even though the technique is ideally suited for low level (pg) isotopic quantification due to its high analyte transport efficiency. Here demonstrate the ETV method for PIC safeguard analysis. The ETV system is an automated, commercial of the shelf (COTS) technology, with the capability to introduce solid samples to a mass spectrometer platform. The system has been shown to simultaneously determine uranium assay, and the major isotopic ratios for uranium and plutonium. The ETV unit has demonstrated analysis up to 50 samples a day autonomously. The utilization of this ETV methodology provide a secondary option to the current PIC analysis and offers high throughput, enhanced sensitivity, and broader isotopic detection platform.