Automated monitoring of in-process plutonium concentration
An automated low-level plutonium monitor capable of measuring total and isotopic plutonium abundances in solutions is described. To demonstrate near real-time assay of in-process plutonium, we installed a monitor on a flowing stream of a laboratory experimental facility. The stream was composed of uranium and plutonium in nitric acid at concentrations typical of a plant using a Purex flowsheet modified to permit coprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The plutonium isotopic abundances were typical of those found in light water reactor grade fuel. The plutonium isotopic concentrations in the stream with the exception of /sup 242/Pu were determined by direct lambda-ray spectrometry. The /sup 242/Pu abundance was calculated by isotope correlation techniques. Additional data were obtained on coprocessed uranium-plutonium solutions denatured with fission products (/sup 103/Ru, /sup 144/Ce//sup 144/Pr, and /sup 95/Zr//sup 95/Nb). /sup 239/Pu and /sup 240/Pu concentrations can be determined to within 2% and 5%, respectively, of the concentrations determined by mass spectrometry.
- Research Organization:
- Allied-General Nuclear Services, Barnwell, SC
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-78ET35900
- OSTI ID:
- 5260224
- Journal Information:
- Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 54:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 242
RADIATION MONITORING
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
AUTOMATION
DIAGRAMS
EQUATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
NUCLEAR FUELS
QUANTITY RATIO
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SPECTRA
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FUELS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR MATERIALS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments