Quantitative and isotopic analysis of single micrometer-sized uranium particles using multiple mass spectrometric techniques

This paper describes the isotopic and quantitative analysis of single micrometer-sized uranium particles by multiple mass spectrometric techniques combined with a micromanipulating technique. Secondary ion mass spectrometry performed the best for the isotopic analysis of single uranium particles in terms of accuracy and precision compared to scanning electron microscope (SEM)/thermal ionization mass spectrometry and SEM/multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). A single uranium particle was dissolved in high-purity acid and quantitated by MC-ICP-MS and isotope dilution MS. The resulting uranium mass per particle was close to the reference value.