Jig. Alonso et al., PERFORMANCE-CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLOVE BOX INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETER FOR THE ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR-MATERIALS, Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry, 8(5), 1993, pp. 673-679
A commercial inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (Elan 250) w
as modified in order to analyse nuclear materials in a glove box. The
nebulizer, plasma torch and sliding interface are situated inside the
glove box while the mass spectrometer and associated electronics are o
utside. The sensitivity of the modified instrument is slightly reduced
compared with the original owing to a flange that separates the mass
spectrometer from the vacuum interface. This has modified the original
distance between the skimmer cone and the ion lens system. The plasma
torch is mounted in a fixed position and the load coil is now separat
ed 25 mm from the tip of the sampling cone. Optimum plasma operating c
onditions, stability of the signal and isotopic ratios, levels of oxid
e and hydroxide polyatomic ions were evaluated in the modified instrum
ent for selected fission products and actinides. The effect of the ion
lens settings on sensitivity and mass discrimination were studied in
detail. Interference effects due to heavy matrix elements (U and Pu) w
ere also studied.