Present status and future plans of the study for preparation of Pu reference materials

All accountancy analysis at the Plutonium Fuel Development Center of JAEA is performed by isotope dilution mass spectrometry with well-characterized standard materials. Though Pu reference materials has been supplied from foreign country, importing those Pu materials is gradually becoming more difficult and may be almost impossible to import them in future. Thus, in order to establish the capability and expertise for the preparation of Pu reference materials, JAEA has started collaborative work with NBL who has high skills for preparing and supplying nuclear reference materials for long periods. One of the targets of this collaboration is preparation of standard material for IDMS (LSD spike). MOX powder which has been stored in JAEA was dissolved and Purified to obtain Pu solution. A small portion of the Purified solution was transported to NBL for analysis. LSD spike will be prepared from this Pu solution and then validation analysis and performance test including stability test will be performed with NBL and JAEA. This report presents status and future plans for the collaboration work. (author)