Ultra-low level plutonium isotopes in the NIST SRM 4355A (Peruvian Soil-1)

Autor: Matthew Douglas, Stephan Vogt, Steven L. Petersen, Donna Beals, G. Brooks, James R. Cadieux, J. LaRosa, Brad D. Patton, Kenneth G. W. Inn, Debra A. Bostick, S. Nour, Ross W. Williams, R. E. Steiner, Steve LaMont, Gregory C. Eiden, Greg Hall, Steve Goldberg
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 67:667-671
ISSN: 0969-8043
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.01.007
Popis: For more than 20 years, countries and their agencies which monitor discharge sites and storage facilities have relied on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 4355 Peruvian Soil reference material. Its low fallout contamination makes it an ideal soil blank for measurements associated with terrestrial pathway to man studies. Presently, SRM 4355 is out of stock, and a new batch of the Peruvian soil is currently under development as future NIST SRM 4355A. Both environmental radioanalytical laboratories and mass spectrometry communities will benefit from this SRM. The former must assess their laboratory contamination and measurement detection limits by measurement of blank sample material. The Peruvian Soil is so low in anthropogenic radionuclides that it is a suitable virtual blank. On the other hand, mass spectrometric laboratories have high sensitivity instruments that are capable of quantitative isotopic measurements at low plutonium levels of the SRM 4355 (first Peruvian Soil SRM) that provided the mass spectrometric community with the calibration, quality control, and testing material needed for methods development, and legal defensibility. The quantification of the ultra-low plutonium content in the SRM 4355A was a considerable challenge for the mass spectrometric laboratories. Careful blank control andmore » correction, isobaric interferences, instrument stability, peak assessment, and detection assessment were necessary. Furthermore, a systematic statistical evaluation of the measurement results and considerable discussions with the mass spectroscopy metrologists were needed to derive the certified values and uncertainties. SRM 4355A will provide the mass spectrometric community with the quality control and testing material needed for higher sensitivity methods development, and legal defensibility.« less
Databáze: OpenAIRE