147 Nd Quantification Using HSCCC-Purified Samples

Weberg, Alexander Bent [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184219760); Dembowski, Mateusz [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)]; Smythe, Nathan C. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163252262); Meininger, Daniel [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000276970981); Eaton, Susan Joy [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000792967823); Lucero, Alyssa-Marie Nicole [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)]; Murillo, Jesse [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000297866948); Patton, Genevieve Mary [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000314351322); White, Jennifer Marie [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)]; James, Michael R. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)]; Rendon, Randy J. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)]; Goff, George Scott [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000322328501); Hanson, Susan Meriel Kloek [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000232308400); May, Iain [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000273027090); Romero, Jennifer R. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000999397514)

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128916

DOE OSTI · 2996979

147 Nd Quantification Using HSCCC-Purified Samples

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Abstract

Quantifying the fission product 147 Nd in nuclear debris samples is an important component of post-detonation nuclear forensics. The most accurate quantifications are obtained when Nd is purified from all other fission products, actinides, activation products, and environmental matrix contained within the debris. In this study, a recently developed method for Nd purification was tested, purifying 147 Nd from solutions of mixed fission products using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). Importantly, the new method allowed for faster elution of Nd from the column as compared with established high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods, and resulted in accurate/precise 147 Nd quantification by gamma-ray spectrometry. While the up-front equipment costs associated with HSCCC may be higher, its operational costs are on par with those of HPLC (solvents, extractants, power). Gas-flow proportional beta decay counting revealed contamination from the nearest neighbor lanthanide 143 Pr (a gamma-silent radioisotope) in the HSCCC-purified samples, but the activity contribution from 147 Nd could still be quantified. Remarkably consistent elution profiles were observed for the HSCCC method, spanning rare earth element (REE) loadings of more than 10 orders of magnitude (tracer to mmol quantities). In conclusion, the reliability and speed of the new method suggest utility for the rapid separation and quantification of 147 Nd in unknown samples.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY HSCCC Nd-147 Nuclear forensics Purification REE

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Weberg, Alexander Bent [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184219760), Dembowski, Mateusz [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)], Smythe, Nathan C. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000163252262), Meininger, Daniel [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000276970981), Eaton, Susan Joy [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000792967823), Lucero, Alyssa-Marie Nicole [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)], Murillo, Jesse [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000297866948), Patton, Genevieve Mary [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000314351322), White, Jennifer Marie [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)], James, Michael R. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)], Rendon, Randy J. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)], Goff, George Scott [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000322328501), Hanson, Susan Meriel Kloek [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000232308400), May, Iain [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000273027090), Romero, Jennifer R. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000999397514). 2025-09-26. 147 Nd Quantification Using HSCCC-Purified Samples. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128916

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