Jr. Schoonover et Gj. Havrilla, Combining X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and vibrational microscopy to assess highly heterogeneous, actinide-contaminated materials, APPL SPECTR, 53(3), 1999, pp. 257-265
Combining X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry with micro-Ra-man and infra
red spectroscopies is shown to be a powerful experimental approach in provi
ding information on components present in highly heterogeneous materials wh
ich contain or have been in contact with actinides. In this initial study,
the quantitative XRF data demonstrate a correlation in the relative amounts
of plutonium with other elements such as strontium and yttrium. The XRF ma
pping provides further evidence for correlation of these (and other) elemen
ts and identifies regions of interest within the sample to be further studi
ed. These regions were then examined by vibrational microscopy to supply in
formation on molecular species present and their spatial distribution. This
experimental approach provides insight into very complex samples and provi
des a technique capable of exploring interactions of molecular components w
ith actinides in complex media.