Determination of ultratrace boron concentrations in uranium oxide by isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry using a simplified separation procedure

Boron was determined at sub-ppm levels in uranium oxide by ID-TIMS. Following nitric acid dissolution, a solvent extraction method was adapted for extraction of boron by 5% 2-ethylhexane-1,3-diol in chloroform followed by evaporation of the extractant in presence of sodium carbonate and mannitol. This procedure allowed TIMS analysis of boron by monitoring the Na(2)BO (2) (+) ions formed from the sodium borate salt in the ion source. Reproducibility of about 1% was obtained for boron determination in the three different uranium oxide samples containing sub-ppm amounts of boron.