MICROANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES IN THE ANALYSIS OF HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Microchem. J., Symp. Ser.

OSTI ID:4708633

Kelley, M T

In the analysis of highly radioactive materials, the use of a small sample is desirable to limit the shielding required and to reduce the possibilities of contamination. With such limited samples, microanalytical techniques are employed that can be adapted to remote control. Liquid samples of 5 to 700 mu l are measured with a servo-actuated pipettor with a precision of 0.3%. Coulometry is ideally suited to remote applications, e.g., the determination of uranium, copper, and nickel in a single sample of an aqueous homogeneous reactor fuel. Plutonium and neptunium can likewise be readily and precisely determined. Polarography is useful for determining reducible ions. Urarium in sub-micrograin amounts is determined by extraction followed by fluorimetry. Spectrophotometry is widely used despite difficulties in maintaining clean cuvettes by remote manipulation. Many constituents of radioactive samples are determined by radiochemical methods; inactive constituents must also be determined. Thus, alkali metals are determined by flame photometry and some impurities by emission spectroscopy. Sulfate is titrated to a spectrophotometric endpoint, and acids to a potentiometric or conductometric endpoint. Density is measured on 5- mu l samples by a falling drop technique. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-012208
• OSTI ID: 4708633
• Journal Information: Microchem. J., Symp. Ser., Journal Name: Microchem. J., Symp. Ser. Vol. Vol: 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
COULOMETRY