NUSIMEP-7, uranium isotope amount ratios in uranium particles : interlaboratory comparison report

The Additional Protocol (AP) authorizes safeguards authorities to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear activities in all parts of a state's nuclear fuel cycle as well as any other location where nuclear material is or may be present. As a part of the Additional Protocol, environmental sampling has become an important tool for the detection of non-declared nuclear activities. In environmental sampling micrometer-sized uranium particles with an isotopic composition characteristic for the processes at the inspected facility need to be collected, identified and analysed. Considering the potential consequences of the analyses, these measurements need to be subjected to a rigorous quality management system. NUSIMEP-7 focused on measurements of uranium isotope amount ratios in uranium particles aiming to support EURATOM safeguards (DGENER), the IAEA network of analytical laboratories for particle analysis of environmental samples for safeguards (NWAL) and laboratories involved in uranium particle analysis. It was organised as a follow-up of NUSIMEP-6, which was the first NUSIMEP in 2008 on particle analysis coordinated by IRMM, intended as a pilot interlaboratory comparison in this field. The feedback from participants in NUSIMEP-6 was taken into account for optimisation and improvements resulting in the second NUSIMEP on particle analysis coordinated by IRMM. NUSIMEP-7 was open for participation to all laboratories in the field of particle analysis, and explicitly recommended by the IAEA to the NWAL for participation.