A new TEVA-DGA chromatography procedure to separate Pu, Am, and Np from bulk U materials

Technical Report · Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 EST 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1902088· OSTI ID:1902088

Engel, John Richard  ^[1]; Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa Marie  ^[1]; Denton, Joanna S.  ^[1]; Buettner, Jacob Eric  ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Trace actinides present within uranium (U) material are diagnostic signatures of U processing history. For example, the emplacement of U material within the high neutron-flux environment of a nuclear reactor can cause neutron capture of U to form 241-plutonium (²⁴¹Pu). Plutonium-241 then decays to progeny isotopes 241-americium (²⁴¹Am) and 237-neptunium (²³⁷Np); therefore, the presence and relative abundances of these trace actinides is indicative of the material’s production history and intended employment (Mayer et al., 2013). During a pre-detonation nuclear forensics investigation, measurement of trace actinide ²⁴¹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, and ²³⁷Np concentrations by an analytical laboratory may be requested. However, chemically purifying these elements from bulk U is a challenging and involved procedure requiring several sequential chromatography columns across 4+ days. To expedite Pu-Am-Np separation from bulk U material, and to improve the yield recovery of these elements, this DHS Postdoc Fellowship has worked to create a new chromatography separation chemistry.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1902088
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-22-32619; TRN: US2309482
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY