Evaluation of an L/sub III/ x-ray absorption-edge densitometer for assay of mixed uranium-plutonium solutions

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5607912

Mosley, W. C.; Thompson, M. C.; Reynolds, L. W.; Russo, P.; Canada, T. R.; Langner, D. G.

An L/sub III/ x-ray absorption-edge densitometer (XRAED), designed and built at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, has been evaluated at Savannah River Laboratory for the assay of uranium and plutonium in process solutions. Fro 2000-second data collection, the precisions (95% confidence level) for uranium assays varied +- 1.04% at 10 g of uranium per liter to 0.34% at 45 g/L, and plutonium assays varied from +- 6.7% at 2 g of plutonium per liter to +- 2.2% at 10 g/L. Hydroxylamine nitrate, a reducing agent used in solvent extraction tests, affect the accuracies of both uranium and plutonium assay by densitometry, and plutonium analysis by coulometry. It appears that the XRAED could be used to control the SRL miniature mixer-settlers, but additional testing will be needed to demonstrate that XRAED accuracy is sufficient for accountability of special nuclear materials.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.; Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-09-0001
• OSTI ID: 5607912
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-79-43; CONF-791117-21; TRN: 80-006439
• Resource Relation: Conference: ANS topical conference, Kiawah Island, SC, USA, 26 Nov 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
37 INORGANIC
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PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION ABSORPTION ANALYSIS
URANIUM
ACCURACY
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
X RADIATION
ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
METALS
MIXTURES
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATIONS
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TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
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