Objective
One of the most promising ultratrace analytical methods - resonance ionisation mass spectroscopy (RIMS) in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) - is now in the stage of analytical application. Its advantages are high elemental and isotopic selectivity and extreme sensitivity. RIMS could be applied to practical problems, such as the detection of trace amounts of transuranium elements, where common methods seem to be insufficient.
This project will study the RIMS abilities in parallel with the design and elaboration of other analytical methods on the basis of available equipment. Sensitivity, selectivity and exposure time of RIMS, together with the simplified sample preparation will exceed the abilities of traditional methods.
The methods to be developed must prove their reliability and sensitivity in order to be accepted for trace analysis. This has to be done by intercalibration of quite a number of samples of different content and isotope ratios determined by accepted, reliable standard methods. These cross-checks will be necessary during the whole period of the project in order to find the optimum conditions for sample preparation as well as for ablation in order to specify the performance of the method.
For the RIMS systems developed, the following conditions are expected at a measuring time of about half an hour: detection limit of better than 108 atoms of actinides with electrothermal evaporation; detection limit of better than 1010 atoms with laser ablation, i.e. without chemical separation.
Four hours are required in the case of a chemical separation. Compared to the conventional radiometric methods, the measuring time at low concentrations will be shorter by a factor of 100 and, furthermore, the isotopic selectivity provided by RIMS allows conclusions on the origin of the contamination.
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
55099 Mainz
Germany