Nondestructive assay methods for solids containing plutonium

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7025055· OSTI ID:7025055

Macmurdo, K W; Gray, L W; Gibbs, A

Specific nondestructive assay (NDA) methods, e.g. calorimetry, coincidence neutron counting, singles neutron counting, and gamma ray spectrometry, were studied to provide the Savannah River Plant with an NDA method to measure the plutonium content of solid scrap (slag and crucible) generated in the JB-Line plutonium metal production process. Results indicate that calorimetry can be used to measure the plutonium content to within about 3% in 4 to 6 hours by using computerized equilibrium sample power predictive models. Calorimetry results confirm that a bias exists in the present indirect measurement method used to estimate the plutonium content of slag and crucible. Singles neutron counting of slag and crucible can measure plutonium to only +-30%, but coincidence neutron counting methods improve measurement precision to better than +-10% in less than ten minutes. Only four portions of a single slag and crucible sample were assayed, and further study is recommended.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 7025055
• Report Number(s): DP-1607; ON: DE84014418
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400103* -- Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures-- (-1987)
ACCURACY
ACTINIDES
CALORIMETRY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
METALS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION DETECTION
SCRAP
SOLID WASTES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTES