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In Situ Quantitative Measurement of Rare Earth Elements in Uranium Oxides by Laser Ablation‐Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry
Author(s) -
Lach Philippe,
Mercadier Julien,
Dubessy Jean,
Boiron MarieChristine,
Cuney Michel
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geostandards and geoanalytical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.037
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1751-908X
pISSN - 1639-4488
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-908x.2012.00161.x
Subject(s) - uranium , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , uranium oxide , matrix (chemical analysis) , chemistry , mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , radiochemistry , laser ablation , depleted uranium , materials science , laser , metallurgy , environmental chemistry , chromatography , physics , optics
Advances in the quantification of rare earth elements ( REE ) at the micrometric scale in uranium oxides by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry are described. The determination of the best analytical conditions was tested using a uranium oxide ( M istamisk) the concentrations of REE in which were previously estimated by other techniques. Comparison between the use of U or P b as an internal standard clearly showed a diameter‐dependent fractionation effect related to P b at small crater diameters (16 and 24 μm), which was not found for U . The quantification of REE contents in uranium oxide samples using both matrix‐matched (uranium oxide) and non‐matrix‐matched ( NIST SRM 610 certified glass) external calibrators displayed no significant difference, demonstrating a limited matrix effect for REE determination by LA ‐ ICP ‐ MS . Moreover, no major interferences on REE s were detected. The proposed methodology ( NIST SRM 610 as external calibrator and U as internal standard) was applied to samples from uranium deposits from around the world. The results showed that LA ‐ ICP ‐ MS is a suitable analytical technique to determine REE down to the μg g −1 level in uranium oxides at the micrometre scale and that this technique can provide significant insights into uranium metallogeny.