Thermal ionization mass spectrometry of molybdenum isotopes

A simple and reliable analytical technique for molybdenum isotope abundance determinations by thermal ionization mass spectrometry, capable of realizi ng precise data from submicrogram amounts of material, is described. This m ethod was specifically designed for molybdenum fission product and double-b eta decay studies, for which only nanogram amounts of sample are available. The molybdenum isotope composition of a high purity molybdenum metal rod, four off-the-shelf reagents, and five molybdenites from different regions w ere analyzed. No significant isotope abundance variations were observed. Th e molybdenum isotope abundances determined were compared to current Interna tional Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) isotope composition and atomic weight data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.