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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

DETERMINATION OF ALUMINUM IN PLUTONIUM

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4352836· OSTI ID:4352836
A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of Al in Pu-Al alloys. The alloys are dissolved in HClO/sub 4/ and the diluted solution (lM) electrolyzed using a mercury cathode to remove any Fe present which would interfere in the subsequent analysis. The Pu is then separated from the Al by precipitation as the insoluble iodate, and the Al determined in the supernatant solution using aluminon as a color reagent. By proper choice of absorption cells and use of 20-mg samples. Al in alloys containing approximately 0.62 to 0.04 wt.% Al may be determined with a standard deviation of 5% or better, whereas alloys containing approximately 0.04 to 0.4 wt.% Al may be determined with a standard deviation of 3%. Reduction of the sample size is allowable for the analysis of alloys containing more than 0.4 wt.% Al. (auth) The neutron- absorption tests were found to provide a means of controlling the purity of graphite and U throughout the manufacturing process. The functional test permits a direct determination of the effect that all impurities present will have on the reactor without reference to the nature of the impurities. The shotgun test was found to be less accurate because several elements are lost in the process of preparing the sample for the test, and the energy distribution of the neutrons used in the method is somewhat different from that found in the reactor. (J.E.D.)
Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
NSA Number:
NSA-12-000725
OSTI ID:
4352836
Report Number(s):
LA-1953(Del.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English