Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry: A strategy for assessment of airborne contamination

R. Ma; D. Bellis; C. W. McLeod

doi:10.1021/ac000545b

Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry: A strategy for assessment of airborne contamination

R. Ma, D. Bellis, C. W. McLeod^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry is proposed as a new measurement strategy for monitoring airborne contamination and for discrimination of nuclear and nonnuclear emission sources. A quadrupole-based ICP mass spectrometer equipped with a microconcentric nebulizer and membrane desolvator was used to provide high-sensitivity measurement. The limit of detection for uranium (²³⁸U) was 0.004 ng L^-1. Measurement precision (²³⁵U/²³⁸U) was between 0.2 and 0.5% RSD for isotopic SRMs (U005 and U015; concentration, 1μg L^-1) and ranged from 0.4 to 3.1% RSD for tree bark extracts (U concentration, 0.03-0.08 μg L^-1). Bark samples collected from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire (U.K.) exhibited a natural ²³⁵U/²³⁸U isotope ratio value (0.0072) whereas samples from Sellafield, West Cumbria (U.K.) showed depletion in ²³⁵U (²³⁵U/²³⁸U = 0.0053-0.0064).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4878-4881
Number of pages	4
Journal	Analytical Chemistry
Volume	72
Issue number	20
Early online date	8 Sept 2000
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/ac000545b
Publication status	Published - 15 Oct 2000
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry: A strategy for assessment of airborne contamination",

abstract = "Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry is proposed as a new measurement strategy for monitoring airborne contamination and for discrimination of nuclear and nonnuclear emission sources. A quadrupole-based ICP mass spectrometer equipped with a microconcentric nebulizer and membrane desolvator was used to provide high-sensitivity measurement. The limit of detection for uranium (238U) was 0.004 ng L-1. Measurement precision (235U/238U) was between 0.2 and 0.5% RSD for isotopic SRMs (U005 and U015; concentration, 1μg L-1) and ranged from 0.4 to 3.1% RSD for tree bark extracts (U concentration, 0.03-0.08 μg L-1). Bark samples collected from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire (U.K.) exhibited a natural 235U/238U isotope ratio value (0.0072) whereas samples from Sellafield, West Cumbria (U.K.) showed depletion in 235U (235U/238U = 0.0053-0.0064).",

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year = "2000",

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T1 - Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry

T2 - A strategy for assessment of airborne contamination

AU - Ma, R.

AU - Bellis, D.

AU - McLeod, C. W.

PY - 2000/10/15

Y1 - 2000/10/15

N2 - Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry is proposed as a new measurement strategy for monitoring airborne contamination and for discrimination of nuclear and nonnuclear emission sources. A quadrupole-based ICP mass spectrometer equipped with a microconcentric nebulizer and membrane desolvator was used to provide high-sensitivity measurement. The limit of detection for uranium (238U) was 0.004 ng L-1. Measurement precision (235U/238U) was between 0.2 and 0.5% RSD for isotopic SRMs (U005 and U015; concentration, 1μg L-1) and ranged from 0.4 to 3.1% RSD for tree bark extracts (U concentration, 0.03-0.08 μg L-1). Bark samples collected from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire (U.K.) exhibited a natural 235U/238U isotope ratio value (0.0072) whereas samples from Sellafield, West Cumbria (U.K.) showed depletion in 235U (235U/238U = 0.0053-0.0064).

AB - Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry is proposed as a new measurement strategy for monitoring airborne contamination and for discrimination of nuclear and nonnuclear emission sources. A quadrupole-based ICP mass spectrometer equipped with a microconcentric nebulizer and membrane desolvator was used to provide high-sensitivity measurement. The limit of detection for uranium (238U) was 0.004 ng L-1. Measurement precision (235U/238U) was between 0.2 and 0.5% RSD for isotopic SRMs (U005 and U015; concentration, 1μg L-1) and ranged from 0.4 to 3.1% RSD for tree bark extracts (U concentration, 0.03-0.08 μg L-1). Bark samples collected from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire (U.K.) exhibited a natural 235U/238U isotope ratio value (0.0072) whereas samples from Sellafield, West Cumbria (U.K.) showed depletion in 235U (235U/238U = 0.0053-0.0064).

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Isotopic analysis of uranium in tree bark by ICP mass spectrometry: A strategy for assessment of airborne contamination

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