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Multi-element isotopic analysis of hot particles from Chornobyl
Darcy van Eerten1, Manuel Raiwa1, Paul Hanemann1
1Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|April 7, 2023
Summary
Chornobyl hot particles, released in 1986, were analyzed using resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). This technique revealed insights into fuel burnup, particle formation, and environmental weathering in the exclusion zone.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Microscopic fuel fragments, known as "hot particles," contaminated the Chornobyl exclusion zone following the 1986 accident.
- Isotopic analysis is crucial for understanding sample origin and environmental contamination but is often limited by destructive techniques and isobaric interference.
- Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) has advanced, enabling analysis of a wider range of elements, including fission products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate multi-element analysis of Chornobyl hot particles using RIMS.
- To investigate fuel burnup, particle formation during the accident, and environmental weathering processes.
- To showcase the capabilities of RIMS in analyzing complex environmental samples.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of hot particles using two RIMS instruments: resonant-laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (rL-SNMS) and laser ionization of neutrals (LION).
- Isotopic analysis of Uranium (U), Plutonium (Pu), Cesium (Cs), Rubidium (Rb), Barium (Ba), and Strontium (Sr).
- Comparison of results obtained from two independent laboratories (IRS Hannover and LLNL).
Main Results:
- Comparable results from both RIMS instruments confirmed burnup-dependent isotope ratios for U, Pu, and Cs, characteristic of RBMK-type reactors.
- Isotope ratios of Rb, Ba, and Sr indicated environmental influences on the particles.
- Evidence of Cesium retention within the particles and the impact of time since fuel discharge was observed.
Conclusions:
- RIMS is a powerful, non-destructive technique for multi-elemental analysis of radioactive hot particles.
- The study provides valuable data on the characteristics of Chornobyl hot particles, their origins, and their environmental interactions.
- This research enhances our understanding of nuclear accident fallout and long-term environmental contamination.
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