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Material Signatures and Isotopic Standards Group

MSIS Graphic

The Material Signatures and Isotopic Standards (MSIS) group of the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) at ORNL works on the cutting edge of high-precision characterization measurements for nuclear signatures and certified reference materials utilizing state-of-the-art multi-collector thermal ionization and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-TIMS/ICPMS) instruments. The group performs research in a suite of laboratories equipped with open-front hoods and glove boxes to safely handle special nuclear materials from bulk quantities to trace levels in support of nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation programs. Analytical capabilities in the MSIS group include high-fidelity isotope ratio measurements using MC-TIMS and MC-ICPMS, quantification of trace elements in actinide matrices by iCAP RQplus and iCAP PRO, α-spectrometry, Davies and Gray titrimetry, high precision titrimetry (for U element content), radio-chronometric age dating of actinide materials, and pycnometry. The MSIS group collaborates extensively with the cleanroom laboratories in the Ultra-Trace Forensic Science Center (UFSC) for separation and sample preparation on environmental quantities of nuclear materials. The UFSC also features unique automated separation systems, sample-handling infrastructure, and multiple MC-ICP-MS, TIMS, triple quad, glow discharge, IRMS instruments.

Contact

Group Leader - Material Signatures and Isotopic Standards
Kattathu Mathew