A comparison of conventional and prototype nondestructive measurements on molten salt extraction residues

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:5625787

Longmire, V L; Scarborough, A M ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)

Impure plutonium metal is routinely processed by molten salt extraction (MSE) to reduce the amount of americium in the metal product. Individuals form four technical groups at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) participated in a study designed to evaluate the accuracy of various nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques for measuring the plutonium content in MSE residues. This study was performed to improve in-house accountability of these items and to identify assay methods that would be acceptable for determining receiver's values for MSE salts from off-site sources. Recent upgrades have been made in a segmented gamma scan system, in a thermal neutron coincidence counter, and in the software of a gamma isotopic system that supports the calorimeters at LAPF. The authors evaluated the newer systems against the older systems versus destructive qualitative analyses. Fourteen containers of MSE residues were selected to be studied. Seven of these salts originated at LAPF and seven originated at Rockwell International Rocky Flats plant. Measurements have been performed on these items in their original containers, and the items have been repackaged into a different geometry and assayed again.

• OSTI ID: 5625787
• Report Number(s): CONF-871110--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
055001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACTINIDES
AMERICIUM
CALORIMETRY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COINCIDENCE SPECTROMETRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
IMPURITIES
LASL
METALS
MOLTEN SALTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PACKAGING
PLUTONIUM
PYROCHEMICAL REPROCESSING
REPROCESSING
SAFEGUARDS
SALTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS