Standardless X-ray fluorescence on hybrid K-edge densitometer device: fundamental parameters approach
Abstract
Accurate and rapid quantification of actinides in highly radioactive solutions is critical for nuclear fuel reprocessing and waste management. This study presents a standardless X-ray fluorescence method applied to a hybrid k-edge densitometer (HKED) system at the Atalante facility at CEA Marcoule, eliminating the need for calibration standards by leveraging a fundamental parameters approach. The method uses one element as an internal reference to deduce the concentrations of other actinides, such as plutonium or neptunium, in liquid samples. The proposed approach combines a detailed geometrical and physical description of the HKED system, Monte Carlo simulations to model the apparent detection efficiency and Python-based spectral processing for peak integration and background correction. The method was validated on 19 spectra from three independent HKED systems (CEA Marcoule, JRC Karlsruhe, and IAEA), covering a wide range of U/Pu mass ratios. Results demonstrate expanded uncertainties below 2.5% for plutonium quantification when peak counting statistics are sufficient. The method is robust, adaptable to other actinides (e.g.: Np, Am), and can be extended to conventional XRF systems with internal standards. This work enhances the analytical capabilities of HKED systems by enabling fully standardless quantification, reducing reliance on mixed calibration solutions while maintaining high accuracy.
Related
- Structure and Solvent Effects on Nonconventional Fluorescence in Choline-Carboxylic Acid Ionic Liquids Hybrid Solvents.
- Effect of Heat treatment parameters on the tribological performance of LM26/graphite/fly ash hybrid aluminium matrix composites using Taguchi-TOPSIS optimization
- Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probes for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery: Current Clinical Probes and Emerging Candidates
- Weak-Form Regression Recovers the Delayed-Fluorescence Rate Law from Flash-Lamp Decays with Near-Optimal Precision
- Dual-band scanned-wavelength infrared laser-induced fluorescence of CO with time-domain modeling for 1 kHz thermometry
BibTeX
@article{esbelin2026standardless,
title = {{Standardless X-ray fluorescence on hybrid K-edge densitometer device: fundamental parameters approach}},
author = {E. Esbelin and P. Schweizer},
journal = {Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.sab.2026.107674},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05839296v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Standardless X-ray fluorescence on hybrid K-edge densitometer device: fundamental parameters approach
AU - E. Esbelin
AU - P. Schweizer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy
DO - 10.1016/j.sab.2026.107674
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05839296v1
AB - Accurate and rapid quantification of actinides in highly radioactive solutions is critical for nuclear fuel reprocessing and waste management. This study presents a standardless X-ray fluorescence method applied to a hybrid k-edge densitometer (HKED) system at the Atalante facility at CEA Marcoule, eliminating the need for calibration standards by leveraging a fundamental parameters approach. The method uses one element as an internal reference to deduce the concentrations of other actinides, such as plutonium or neptunium, in liquid samples. The proposed approach combines a detailed geometrical and physical description of the HKED system, Monte Carlo simulations to model the apparent detection efficiency and Python-based spectral processing for peak integration and background correction. The method was validated on 19 spectra from three independent HKED systems (CEA Marcoule, JRC Karlsruhe, and IAEA), covering a wide range of U/Pu mass ratios. Results demonstrate expanded uncertainties below 2.5% for plutonium quantification when peak counting statistics are sufficient. The method is robust, adaptable to other actinides (e.g.: Np, Am), and can be extended to conventional XRF systems with internal standards. This work enhances the analytical capabilities of HKED systems by enabling fully standardless quantification, reducing reliance on mixed calibration solutions while maintaining high accuracy.
SN - 0584-8547
SN - 1873-3565
ER -