TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigation of sulphur isotope variation due to different processes applied during uranium ore concentrate production
AU - Krajkó, Judit
AU - Varga, Zsolt
AU - Wallenius, Maria
AU - Mayer, Klaus
AU - Konings, Rudy
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The applicability and limitations of sulphur isotope ratio as a nuclear forensic signature have been studied. The typically applied leaching methods in uranium mining processes were simulated for five uranium ore samples and the n(34S)/n(32S) ratios were measured. The sulphur isotope ratio variation during uranium ore concentrate (UOC) production was also followed using two real-life sample sets obtained from industrial UOC production facilities. Once the major source of sulphur is revealed, its appropriate application for origin assessment can be established. Our results confirm the previous assumption that process reagents have a significant effect on the n(34S)/n(32S) ratio, thus the sulphur isotope ratio is in most cases a process-related signature.
AB - The applicability and limitations of sulphur isotope ratio as a nuclear forensic signature have been studied. The typically applied leaching methods in uranium mining processes were simulated for five uranium ore samples and the n(34S)/n(32S) ratios were measured. The sulphur isotope ratio variation during uranium ore concentrate (UOC) production was also followed using two real-life sample sets obtained from industrial UOC production facilities. Once the major source of sulphur is revealed, its appropriate application for origin assessment can be established. Our results confirm the previous assumption that process reagents have a significant effect on the n(34S)/n(32S) ratio, thus the sulphur isotope ratio is in most cases a process-related signature.
KW - Nuclear forensics
KW - Origin assessment
KW - Process-related signature
KW - Sulphur isotope
KW - Uranium leaching
KW - Uranium ore concentrate
UR - http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e544e41a-e1c0-416f-8a78-1e7b39f4edcb
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959168472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10967-016-4733-5
DO - 10.1007/s10967-016-4733-5
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84959168472
SN - 0236-5731
VL - 309
SP - 1113
EP - 1121
JO - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
JF - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
IS - 3
ER -