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DETERMINATION OF RARE EARTH IMPURITIES IN THORIUM BY SPECTROGRAPHIC METHODS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4339618

A method for determining rare earth impurities in Th in the fractional ppm range is described. Refore spectrographic examination is possible, the impurities must be freed from the Th matrix. This is accomplished by removing the bulk of the Th by extraction with TBP--CCl/sub 4/ and the remainder by extraction with TTA--C/sub 6/H/sub 6/. This results in a consistent recovery of rare earths of about 85% with an average sensitivity of 0.2 ppm. The experimental error is within 10%. Retails of the procedure are given together with working curves for the major neutron absorbing rare earths; i.e. Dy, Eu, Gd, and Sm. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Project, Chalk River, Ont.
NSA Number:
NSA-12-005231
OSTI ID:
4339618
Report Number(s):
CRDC-742; AECL-546
Country of Publication:
Canada
Language:
English