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Determination of the uranium content and isotopic composition of hot particles after the Chernobyl accident

Journal Article · · Journal of Analytical Chemistry
OSTI ID:456733
;  [1]
  1. Vernadsky Inst. of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Moscow (Russian Federation)

The uranium content and isotopic composition of hot particles from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant region were determined by instrumental neutron-activation analysis. The uranium content of the particles ranged from fractions of a percent to several tens of percents, and the isotopic composition corresponded to the irradiated nuclear fuel. Two particles with anomalously high enrichment in {sup 235}U were found. A simplified but reasonably accurate and rapid method for evaluating the {sup 235}U content of nuclear fuel without using a standard was suggested on the basis of the relationship found between the {sup 235}U content of uranium contained in the hot particles and the ratio of induced radioactivity {sup 239}Np({sup 238}U)/{sup 99}Mo({sup 235}U).

OSTI ID:
456733
Journal Information:
Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Analytical Chemistry Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 50; ISSN 1061-9348; ISSN JACTE2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English