New reference materials for trace-levels of actinide elements in plutonium

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Essex ◽  
Lav Tandon ◽  
Amy Gaffney ◽  
Cole R. Hexel ◽  
Debbie A. Bostick ◽  
...  

Abstract Two plutonium oxides were prepared as unique reference materials for measurement of actinide elements present as trace constituents. Each reference material unit is approximately 200 mg of PuO2 powder in a quartz glass bottle. Characterized attributes of the oxides included mass fractions of plutonium, americium, neptunium, and uranium. Isotope-amount ratios were also determined for plutonium and uranium, but neptunium and americium were observed to be monoisotopic 237Np and 241Am. Measurements for characterization and verification of the attributes show that plutonium and trace actinides are homogeneous with the exception of limited heterogeneity for uranium, primarily observed for the 238U isotope. Model purification ages calculated from measured americium and uranium attribute values are consistent with material histories and indicate that these impurities are predominantly due to the decay of plutonium isotopes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
I. V. Nikolaeva ◽  
A. A. Kravchenko ◽  
S. V. Palessky ◽  
S. V. Nechepurenko ◽  
D. V. Semenova

Two methods — ICP-MS and ICP-AES are used for certification of the new reference material — needles of Siberian pine (NSP-1). Techniques of the analysis include decomposition of plant samples in two different ways: acid digestion in a microwave system MARS-5 and lithium metaborate fusion followed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES analysis of the solutions. Simultaneous determinations of all the elements were carried out in low, medium and high resolution using SF-mass-spectrometer ELEMENT and atomic-emission spectrometer IRIS Advantage with external calibrations and internal standards (In — ICP-MS, Sc —ICP-AES). Middle and high resolutions of ICP mass spectrometer were used for interference corrections. Data obtained by ICP-MS and ICP-AES with different decomposition techniques are in good agreement. The ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques have been validated by the analysis of three plant reference materials: LB-1 (leaf of a birch), Tr-1 (grass mixture) and EK-1 (Canadian pondweed). These techniques were used for the determination of 38 elements in the new reference material NSP-1. Relative standard deviations for most of the determined elements were below 10%. Combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques for certification of the new reference material makes it possible to expand the set of elements to be determined and to reduce the total analysis time.


Author(s):  
Juliane Riedel ◽  
Sebastian Recknagel ◽  
Diana Sassenroth ◽  
Tatjana Mauch ◽  
Sabine Buttler ◽  
...  

AbstractZearalenone (ZEN), an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium fungi, is a common contaminant of cereal-based food worldwide. Due to frequent occurrences associated with high levels of ZEN, maize oil is a particular source of exposure. Although a European maximum level for ZEN in maize oil exists according to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1126/2007 along with a newly developed international standard method for analysis, certified reference materials (CRM) are still not available. To overcome this lack, the first CRM for the determination of ZEN in contaminated maize germ oil (ERM®-BC715) was developed in the frame of a European Reference Materials (ERM®) project according to the requirements of ISO Guide 35. The whole process of CRM development including preparation, homogeneity and stability studies, and value assignment is presented. The assignment of the certified mass fraction was based upon an in-house study using high-performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Simultaneously, to support the in-house certification study, an interlaboratory comparison study was conducted with 13 expert laboratories using different analytical methods. The certified mass fraction and expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of ERM®-BC715 (362 ± 22) μg kg−1 ZEN are traceable to the SI. This reference material is intended for analytical quality control and contributes to the improvement of consumer protection and food safety. Graphical abstract


Author(s):  
Zhian Bao ◽  
Kaiyun Chen ◽  
Chunlei Zong ◽  
Honglin Yuan

Sulfur isotope is an important geochemical tracer in diverse fields of geosciences. Controlling the accuracy and precision of microanalysis of sulfur isotope requires well-characterized reference materials with matrices similar to...


Author(s):  
Ruoxi Zhang ◽  
Kenny Nadeau ◽  
Eduardo Amilcar Gautier ◽  
Paola Alejandra Babay ◽  
José Luis Ramella ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
L. A. Konopelko ◽  
A. V. Kolobova ◽  
O. V. Fatina

Currently, in the Russian Federation, the metrological traceability of certified reference materials of the composition of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure produced by manufacturers of certified reference materials is carried out in accordance with GOST 8.578-2014. Considering that certified reference materials of the composition of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure are used for testing to approye the type of measuring instruments, verification, calibration, and graduation of gas-analytical measuring instruments used to control explosive gases and vapors, harmful components in the atmospheric air and the air of the working area, emissions from vehicles and enterprises, to control technological processes, the quality of hydrocarbon products, etc., the issue of ensuring the quality of seriously produced certified reference materials (about 100.000 cylinders with gas mixtures per year) is important. To ensure the quality of certified reference materials of gas mixtures in cylinders under pressure, mass-produced by manufacturers of certified reference materials, we offer the following actions:– manufacturers of certified reference materials’ passing of mandatory accreditation for compliance with the requirements of GOST ISO Guide 34–2014 and GOST ISO Guide 35–2015;– manufacturers of certified reference materials’ constant participation in the proficiency testing programs through interlaboratory tests;– actualizing and refining the existing set of standards defining the requirements for the entire life cycle of a certified reference material of a gas mixture in a cylinder under pressure;– improving the method of certification of a reference material by calculating the value of the expanded uncertainty of the reference material and the introducting a new coefficient «technological reserve».


Author(s):  
Andreia de Lima Fioravante ◽  
Evelyn de Freitas Guimarães ◽  
Fabiano Barbieri Gonzaga ◽  
Cristiane Rodrigues Augusto ◽  
Claudia Cipriano Ribeiro ◽  
...  

This chapter aims to present the developments performed by the Brazilian Metrology Institute (NMI) – Inmetro, considering the environmental demand. Inmetro addresses a great part of its activities to the study of the traceability transference based on production and dissemination of certified reference material (CRM) of different areas in chemistry. The chapter presents results from certification of the following reference materials developed: BTEX and PAH in solution, besides automotive emission gas mixtures and bioethanol. So, the achievements made are the growth in developing CRM in order to support the needs of the national industry and to disseminate traceability among the society.


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