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Determination of traces of light elements in alkali metals using $gamma$ photon and charged particle activation (in French)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4937352
Thesis. Submitted to Strasbourg Univ. (France). The various gamma and charged-particle activation methods used to determine light elements are described in a general way. The determination of carbon and oxygen in sodium and cesium using gamma photons and the determination of sulfur using protons are then described in greater detail. Several activation curves were determined. They enable the theoretical sensitivities of the methods to be calculated and the interferences due to the principal nuclear side reactions to be evaluated. The effect of the matrix, which is particularly important in the case of sodium, is studied. The calibration methods are described. Special emphasis is given to the possibility of having to use an internal calibration technique for determinations effected using photons. The calibration curves are plotted. In order to render these analytical methods suitable for determining, in a general way, infinitesimal traces of elements, different methods were developed and others improved for radiochemically separating elements from sodium and cesium (/ sup 11/C, /sup 15/O, /sup 17/F, /sup 18/F, and /sup 34m/Cl). Some applications of the activation and chemical separation methods developed are given; the results of various different determinations are presented and discussed. Contents of 0.25 mu g/g of carbon, 0.3 mu g/g of oxygen, and 0.6 mu g/g of sulfur were determined in pure sodium. For cesium the relative values obtained were higher, 1 mu g/g of carbon and 8 mu g/g oxygen. The possibility of eliminating the effects of any contamination and also of dispensing with blanks in this activation analysis enabled extremely low concentrations of these elcments to be deternained in alkali metals, such determination being made for the first time. (auth)
Research Organization:
CEA Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
Sponsoring Organization:
Sponsor not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-29-018031
OSTI ID:
4937352
Report Number(s):
CEA-R--4539
Country of Publication:
France
Language:
French