Determination of fission products in nuclear samples by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS)

Determination of fission products and of their isotopic composition is of high importance for the characterisation and complete inventory of nuclear fuels. Radiometric and mass spectrometric methods, which are currently used, enable only an incomplete determination of the fission products. Radiometric methods cannot be applied to all fission products and mass spectrometric methods are hindered by the existence of isobaric interferences, therefore a previous chemical separation is required before mass spectrometric analysis. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (both ICP-QMS and ICP-SFMS). Typical detection limits of 6 ng/mL and 4 pg/mL for caesium as well as 8 ng/mL and 7 pg/mL for lanthanides have been obtained by CE-ICP-QMS and CE-ICP-SFMS, respectively. In addition to these very low detection limits, the procedures present the advantages to be fast (6 min for caesium and 13 min for lanthanides, respectively), to require a low microliter range sample volume and a nanoliter range injection volume. The radiation dose for the personnel as well as the volume of nuclear liquid wastes generated during the measurements are consequently reduced.The procedures have been applied to nuclear samples from PUREX process and leachates from MOX fuels.