The activities of the host laboratory within the CEA’s Directorate of Military Applications (DAM) focus on the analysis of small quantities of nuclear material. This study aims to develop and implement a method for elemental analysis in powdered solids, based on the coupling of a laser ablation (LA) device with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). The method developed must cover a wide range of concentrations, from ultra-trace levels (ng/g) to minor and major elements. Sample preparation will be performed by alkaline fusion to form glass pellets, ensuring good spatial homogeneity of the elements to be analyzed. For certain applications, up to forty chemical elements will need to be analyzed.
Measurements will be performed using a 213-nm nanosecond UV laser and a high-resolution ICPMS (Thermo-Fisher “Element XR”) located in a controlled area. The target samples are labeled soils and uranium ore concentrates. Part of this work will be conducted in collaboration with the European Joint Research Center (JRC) in Karlsruhe, Germany, which is also equipped with a multi-collection LA-ICPMS system (Thermo-Fisher “Neoma”).