title: Advances in the development of a dissolution method for the attribution of iridium source materials.
abstract: To assist in nuclear forensic investigations, new techniques are required to evaluate radioactive materials that may be discovered outside of regulatory control. Using a recently developed pressure digestion method for iridium powder, assessments have been made of this techniques suitability for undertaking iridium target material evaluations. In addition to determining the reaction conditions necessary for total dissolution, these investigations have provided an insight into the elemental impurities that are present within unirradiated iridium targets that are used in QSA Global radiography sources, and established the speciation of the iridium solutions that are formed during this process.
authors.affiliation: AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4PR UK.|Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ UK.
authors.forename: A P J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2609-9849
authors.initials: APJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 1NA UK.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ UK.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.affiliation: AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4PR UK.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Marsden
keywords: Dissolution; Iridium targets; Nuclear forensics; Pressure vessels; Speciation