Determination of thorium, uranium and transuranium isotopes in siliceous and refractory materials by high-resolution alpha spectrometry

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5584879

Sill, C. W.; Sill, D. S.

Samples of siliceous solids up to 1 gram were dissolved completely by fusion with potassium fluoride in platinum dishes in the presence of appropriate isotopic tracers. The fluoride cake was then transposed with concentrated sulfuric acid to a pyrosulfate fusion with simultaneous volatilization of all silica and fluoride. Thorium and the transuranium elements were precipitated isomorphously with barium sulfate. Thorium and transuranium elements were precipitated as hydroxides, filtered on a membrane filter and analyzed in an alpha spectrometer. When much natural thorium-232 was present, the hydroxides were converted to fluorides before analysis by alpha spectrometry. Uranium was precipitated isomorphously with barium sulfate. The uranium was precipitated consecutively as the hydroxide and fluoride for mounting and analysis by alpha spectrometry. The procedure was much simpler and faster than others available. Resolution of the subsequent alpha spectra was comparable to that obtained by electrodeposition. When sufficient activity was present, the results could be reproduced with a relative standard deviation of about 1% for the entire determination. The accuracy of the determination on standards was always as good as the statistical uncertainty of the measurement would permit.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5584879
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-88287; CONF-8810112--9; ON: DE90002093
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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400105 -- Separation Procedures
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM SULFATES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
ISOTOPES
METALS
MILL TAILINGS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM FLUORIDES
PRECIPITATION
REFRACTORIES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLID WASTES
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TAILINGS
THORIUM
URANIUM
WASTES