• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.547-555
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• 2023

Due to enhanced precision in uranium isotope measurements with MC-ICP-MS, there has been a surge in studies concerning the naturally occurring uranium isotope ratio (²³⁸U/²³⁵U) and its associated fractionation processes. Several researchers have highlighted that the ²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio, previously assumed to be constant, can vary by several per mil depending on different natural fractionation processes. This review paper outlines the uranium isotope values (δ²³⁸U) for major terrestrial reservoirs and their variations. It discusses the range of δ238U values and uranium isotope fractionation seen in uranium ore deposits, based on deposit type and ore-forming conditions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of studies on uranium ore deposits. Such deposits serve as natural simulation models vital for designing high-level radioactive waste repository sites.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4636-4643
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• 2022

A time-of-flight and energy (TOF-E) detection system for the measurement of ²³⁶U accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has been developed to improve the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity at Micro Analysis Laboratory, Tandem accelerator (MALT), The University of Tokyo. With observing TOF distribution of ²³⁵U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U, this TOF-E detection system has clearly separated ²³⁶U from the interference of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U when measuring three kinds of uranium standards. In addition, we have developed a novel method combining kernel-based density estimation method and multi-Gaussian fitting method to estimate the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of the TOF-E detection system. Using this new estimation method, 3.4 × 10^-12 of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity and 1.9 ns of time resolution are obtained. ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of TOF-E detection system has improved two orders of magnitude better than that of previous gas ionization chamber. Moreover, unknown species other than uranium isotopes were also observed in the measurement of a surface soil sample, which has demonstrated that TOF-E detection system has a higher sensitivity in particle identification. With its high sensibility in mass determination, this TOF-E detection system could also be used in other heavy isotope AMS.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.144-147
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• 1985

The spontaneous fission rate of $^{238}U$ has been determined using a solid state track recorder that was a pre-etched mica. Counting the tracks revealed in mica made it possible to calculate the spontaneous fission rate. The mica remained in close contact with a $^{238}UO_2$ foil for about five years. The resulting fission rate was $5.21{\pm}0.33$ fissions/g-sec.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.4327-4331
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• 2011

A new method in thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was developed to correct peak tailing backgrounds in the isotope ratio measurements of uranium in ultra trace levels for higher accuracy. Two different uranium standard reference materials (U005 and U030) were used to construct databases of signal intensities at mass 234 u and mass 236 u, which correspond to the two uranium minor isotopes, and signal intensity of $^{238}U$. Correlations between peak tailing backgrounds and $^{238}U$ were obtained by least-squares regression on calculated backgrounds at mass 234 u and mass 236 u with respect to the signal intensity of $^{238}U$ followed by separation of the peak tails of the two major isotopes of uranium ($^{235}U$ and $^{238}U$), which enables us to obtain a master equation for peak tailing background correction on all kinds of samples. Verification of the correction method was carried out using U010 and IRMM-040a.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1460-1467
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• 2023

A robust approach was conducted to determining the absolute oral bioavailable (f_ab) fractions of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in rats exposed to contaminated soil along with their hematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The soil sample is the International Atomic Energy Agency-312 (IAEA-312) certified reference material, whereas blood, bones, and kidneys of in vivo female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats estimate ²³⁸U- and ²³²Th-f_ab fractions post-exposure. We predict the bioavailable concentration (C_ab) and f_ab values of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th after acute soil ingestion. The blood ²³⁸U (0.750%) and ²³²Th (0.028%) reach their maximum f_ab values after 48 h. The ²³⁸U (f_ab: 0.169-0.652%) accumulates mostly in the kidney, whereas the ²³²Th (f_ab: 0.004-0.021%) accumulates primarily in the bone. Additionally, ²³⁸U is more bioavailable than ²³²Th. Post 48 h acute ingestion demonstrates noticeable histopathological and hematological alterations, implying that intake of ²³⁸U in co-contaminated soil can lead to erythrocytes and proximal tubules damage, whereas, ²³²Th intake can harm erythrocytes. Our study provides new directions for future research into the health implications of acute oral exposures to ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in co-contaminated soils. The findings offer significant insight into the utilization of in vivo SD rat testing to estimate ²³⁸U and ²³²Th bioavailability and toxicity in exposure assessment.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 1969

Determinations of the isotopic contents of U$^{235}$ and U$^{238}$ in ten uranium samples containing 0.72-89.70 at % U$^{235}$ were carried out in two ways utilizing high resolution Ge (Li) gamma-ray spectrometer. One method is based upon the fact that the intensity of 185.5 kev gamma-ray vary linearly with U$^{235}$ content for a given geometry. Another method applied for the direct determination of the U$^{235}$ / U$^{238}$ isotopic ratios is the precision gamma-ray spectrometric analysis of reactor irradiated uranium samples after allowing a fixed cooling time for one hour. The results obtained by both methods well agree with the values calculated from the isotopic contents of highly enriched original uranium samples measured by mass spectrometer. The precision obtained was well below 5% for most of the isotopic ratios investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.142-146
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• 2004

지하수중에 존재하는 극미량의 환경방사성 동위원소를 측정하기 위한 방법을 개발하였다. 각 핵종들중 234U, 238U, 222Rn, 226Ra은 섬광액을 포함한 용매추출법을 사용하여 개별분리한 후 액체섬광계수기를 사용하여 각 핵종에서 방출되는 알파선을 검출하였다. 환경방사성 원소인 U과 Th 딸핵종의 비평형에 의한 지하수 특성 연구를 위해서 국내 지하수 중의 234U와 238U의 방사능비 측정을 대전 화강암 지역에서 채취한 지하수 시료를 ICP/MS를 사용하여 U 함량을 결정하고, 지하수에서 U을 용매추출한 후 알파전용 액체섬광계수기를 사용하여 234U와 238U의 방사능을 측정하였다.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.210-211
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• 2009

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 1983

An apparatus was made for the electrodeposition of alpha emitting actinide nuclides, $^{207}Bi$ and $^{210}Po$. The electrodeposition was made on a polished stainless steel plate cathode. The anode was made of platinum wire and to stir the solution. With the ammonium chloride as electrolyte initial pH = 4, chloride concentration = 0.6M and solution volume = 15ml, a current of 1.5 ampere(current density = 0.59A/$cm^2$) was flowed for 100 minutes for the quantitative recovery of electrodeposition and on average recovery of 98.3% was obtained within ${\pm}$0.7% uncertainty. Alpha spectrometry of the electrodeposited sample showed alpha peaks from $^{210}Po, ^{234}U$ and $^{239}Pu$ having energy resolution (FWHM) of 18.3, 21.8 and 36.0 keV respectively. The electrodeposition and alpha spectrometry for a natural uranium sample of domestic origin gave $^{238}U : ^{234}U = 1 : 6.1{\times}10^{-5}$ and for a neutron-irradiated uranium sample did $^{238}U : ^{239}Pu : ^{241}Am = 100 : 0.0263 : 5.20{times}10^{-5}$. The result of $^{238}U$ determination in the irradiated sample by electrodeposition-alpha spectrometry was in accord within ${\pm}1.6%$ of relative error with the results of solid fluorimetry and mass spectrometry. For $^{239}Pu$ the result of electrodeposition-alpha spectrometry was in accord within ${\pm}$4.0% of relative error with the results of anion exchange separation and the thenoyltrifluoroacetone(TTA) extraction both followed by alpha spectrometries.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.1638-1649
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• 2019

Top soil samples across the state of Kuwait numering ninety were collected and analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry, to evaluate the elemental concentration of $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$ and their depletion/enrichment. Results of elemental concentration ranges from 0.48 to 2.61 mg/kg, 0.87-5.23 mg/kg, and 0.24-2.23%, with a mean values of 1.39 mg/kg, 3.47 mg/kg, and 1.18%, for the $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$, respectively. Further analysis was conducted amongst the five identified soil types, i.e. Aquisalids (S1), Calcigypsids (S2), Petrocalcids (S3), Petrogypsids (S4), and torripsamment (S5). The highest radioactivity concentrations from both uranium and thorium were recorded in the S2 (Calcigypsids) soil, with a value of 1.71 (mg/kg) and 4.45 (mg/kg), respectively. Minimum and maximum values of $^{40}K$ are 1.1(%) and 1.27(%) and is prevalent in Aquisalids (S1) and Petrocalcids (S3) soil types, respectively. Ratios of elemental concentration for $^{232}Th/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{232}Th$ across the soil types are 2.53, 0.09 and 0.03, with a correlation coefficient of 0.92, 0.34, and 0.38, respectively. A progressively higher $^{232}Th/^{238}U$ ratio is observed moving south-wards, indicating lower $^{238}U$ content in soils from the south relative to the northern part. Overall results indicate Kuwait to be relatively an area with low level of natural radioactivity.