Investigating the oxidation states of plutonium and its local structure in single hot particles

Characterizing “hot particles”, micrometre-sized fragments of nuclear material, is crucial for assessing environmental contamination and health risks after nuclear incidents. The speciation of elements like plutonium within these particles is especially challenging due to their rather low concentration. This study employs High-Energy-Resolution Fluorescence-Detected (HERFD) XANES at the L3-edge to probe the oxidation states and local structure of plutonium in individual hot particles. With this information, we aim to provide unprecedented insights into their dissolution behaviour and mobility of their radioactive inventory. These findings are anticipated to guide the development of effective decontamination strategies and refine risk assessment models.