SBIR-STTR Award

AwareAbility Technologies (AAT), in collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU), proposes to develop a small hand-held analysis kit for in-field analysis of trace amounts of Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu) that will meet or exceed the requirements set by DTRA. Swipe, dust, or water samples would be analyzed by this kit for isotopes and isotopic ratios to indicate the special nuclear material (SNM) diversion in nuclear fuel cycle, clandestine enrichment activities in foreign weapon programs, and/or post-detonation forensics. The novelty of the idea is to preconcentrate U/Pu directly onto an electrode of an in-house fabricated semiconductor alpha detector by electrodeposition and then perform alpha spectroscopy on-site to provide quantitative measurements of U and Pu, along with their isotopic ratios, and concentrations. The U and Pu deposits will be electrochemically stripped so that the sensor is reusable.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) needs a capability to collect and provide immediate presumptive analysis of radiological/nuclear samples of concern at the source of collection. Such in-field technologies should be capable of detecting and identifying trace quantities of elements and/or chemicals containing plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U), with a focus on chemicals specific to the nuclear fuel cycle. AwareAbility Technologies (AAT), in collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU), is developing a small hand-held analysis kit for in-field analysis of trace amounts of U and Pu. Swipe, dust, or water samples would be analyzed for isotopes and isotopic ratios to indicate situations such as the special nuclear material (SNM) diversion in nuclear fuel cycle, clandestine enrichment activities in foreign weapon programs, and/or post-detonation forensics. Phase I has served to prove the validity of such a battery powered in-field analysis kit where a “smart cap” has a sensor and two penetrating electrodes for electrodeposition and in-field detection of U or Pu deposited onto the sensor. In particular, the ability to detect U and Pu at 1ppm or less has been demonstrated. The advantages of the dual mode operation have also been illustrated. Phase I also helped solidify the concept of a commercially viable product called the In-Field Trace Analyzer (IFTA). AAT seeks to mature this technology with a Phase II effort.