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A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF URANIUM BY DELAYED-NEUTRON COUNTING

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4763522· OSTI ID:4763522

The method of neutron activation analysis of U by delayed-neutron counting was investigated in order to ascertain if the method would be suitable for routine application to such analyses. It was shown that the method can be used extensively and routinely for the determination of U. Emphasis was placed on the determination of U in the types of sample materials encountered in nuclear technology. Determinations of U were made on such materials as ores, granite, sea sediments, biological tissue, graphite, and metal alloys. The method is based upon the fact that delayed neutrons are emitted from fission products from the interaction of neutrons with U/sup 235/. Since the U/sup 235/ component of U undergoes most of the fissions when a sample is in a neutron flux, the method is predominately one for the determination of U/sup 235/. The total U in a sample or the isotopic composition of the U in a sample can be determined provided there is a prior knowledge of one of these quantities. The U/sup 235/ content of a test sample is obtained by comparing its delayed-neutron count to that obtained with a comparator sample containing a known quantity of U/sup 235/. (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
NSA Number:
NSA-16-031546
OSTI ID:
4763522
Report Number(s):
ORNL-3342
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English