IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEASUREMENTS OF URANIUM CONCENTRATION AND ISOTOPE AMOUNT RATIO FOR NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS

Over the last ten years a series of coordinated actions have been taken to improve the quality of measurements carried out for nuclear safeguards at the CTMSP facility in Brazil. In the field of destructive analysis, analytical laboratories were equipped, training of personnel was reinforced, modern concepts of metrology in chemistry were implanted, certified reference materials were acquired and isotope reference materials were prepared, characterized and certified. As a consequence, the reliability of the measurement results of uranium concentration and isotope amount ratio has improved, as demonstrated by the results obtained through the participation in international interlaboratory comparison programs like SMEP (NBL), EQRAIN (CETAMA), REIMEP (IRMM) and NUSIMEP (IRMM). This achievement is helping to enhance the trust in the nuclear safeguards system in South America.