A radioactive particle embedded in a sediment collected from the Irish Sea was examined with
spectrometric methods to understand the potential bioavailability of its constituents. Images of the particle
surface were acquired in the backscattering mode by scanning electron microscopy. The elemental composition
of the particle surface layer was measured using energy dispersive ~SEM-EDX! and wavelength dispersive
~SEM-WDX! X-ray spectrometers. The investigation showed that the sample consists of a calcite matrix in
which uranium is present in the form of separate inclusions. The diameter of U inclusions was less than 10 mm.
Synchrotron radiation based X-ray fluorescence in confocal geometry ~confocal m-XRF! was used to determine
the spatial distribution of elements in the particle. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the Ca, Cr,Mn, Fe, Zn,
Sr, Ba, Pb, and U distributions were performed. The oxidation state of uranium in the different inclusions was
determined by synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption in confocal geometry ~confocal m-XANES!. The
isotopic composition of uranium was measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The results revealed that
uranium was depleted in 235U. Pu and other actinides were not detected.
BIELEWSKI Marek;
HIMBERT Jerome;
FALKENBERG G.;
ERIKSSON M.;
BETTI Maria;
NIAGOLOVA N.;
2008-11-07
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
JRC48617
1431-9276,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC48617,
10.1017/S1431927608080707,
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