Measurement of impurities in plutonium metal by rapid ion exchange/direct current argon plasma spectrometry

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6126939

Maxwell, III, S. L.; Coleman, J. T.

A rapid ion exchange/direct current argon plasma (DCAP) spectrometry method is now being applied at the Savannah River Site to provide faster, more reliable assay of key metallic impurities in plutonium metal. These measurements are essential for nuclear materials accountability and enhanced process control. Impurity assays must be performed to ensure that plutonium product specifications are met and to determine the 100% -- impurities plutonium assay used in shipper/receiver calculations. Separation of impurities from plutonium metal is required prior to measurement by spectral techniques since the complex emission spectra of plutonium interferes with the impurity emission lines. A modified commercial vacuum system is used to perform the ion exchange separation in a glovebox. Since column flow rates are 10--15 times that of conventional ion exchange, purification time is relatively short. Separation efficiency is maintained by using small particle resin. The DCAP method is faster and provides much better accuracy and precision than the previously used carrier distillation dc arc spectrographic technique. The DCAP instrument has a much greater linear dynamic range than dc arc, does not require plutonium matrix standards for instrument calibration, and requires much less space than a dc arc spectrograph. Sixteen key metallic impurities are routinely measured using the ion exchange/DCAP spectrometry method. 11 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6126939
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-89-28; CONF-890736-36; ON: DE89014140
• Resource Relation: Conference: 30. annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Orlando, FL, USA, 9-12 Jul 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
IMPURITIES
MEASURING METHODS
PLUTONIUM
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
FLOW RATE
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
ION EXCHANGE
SAMPLE PREPARATION
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
050800 - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing