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Title: Method for radioactivity monitoring

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for analyzing uranium and/or thorium contents of liquid effluents preferably utilizing a sample containing counting chamber. Basically, 185.7-keV gamma rays following .sup.235 U alpha decay to .sup.231 Th which indicate .sup.235 U content and a 63-keV gamma ray doublet found in the nucleus of .sup.234 Pa, a granddaughter of .sup.238 U, are monitored and the ratio thereof taken to derive uranium content and isotopic enrichment .sup.235 U/.sup.235 U + .sup.238 U) in the liquid effluent. Thorium content is determined by monitoring the intensity of 238-keV gamma rays from the nucleus of .sup.212 Bi in the decay chain of .sup.232 Th.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Santa Fe, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
862683
Patent Number(s):
3988615
Application Number:
05/572,042
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; radioactivity; monitoring; disclosure; relates; analyzing; uranium; thorium; contents; liquid; effluents; preferably; utilizing; sample; containing; counting; chamber; basically; 185; 7-kev; gamma; rays; following; 235; alpha; decay; 231; indicate; content; 63-kev; ray; doublet; found; nucleus; 234; granddaughter; 238; monitored; ratio; derive; isotopic; enrichment; effluent; determined; intensity; 238-kev; 212; chain; 232; uranium content; sample containing; gamma rays; gamma ray; disclosure relates; liquid effluent; isotopic enrichment; kev gamma; /250/

Citation Formats

Umbarger, C John, and Cowder, Leo R. Method for radioactivity monitoring. United States: N. p., 1976. Web.
Umbarger, C John, & Cowder, Leo R. Method for radioactivity monitoring. United States.
Umbarger, C John, and Cowder, Leo R. Tue . "Method for radioactivity monitoring". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862683.
@article{osti_862683,
title = {Method for radioactivity monitoring},
author = {Umbarger, C John and Cowder, Leo R},
abstractNote = {The disclosure relates to a method for analyzing uranium and/or thorium contents of liquid effluents preferably utilizing a sample containing counting chamber. Basically, 185.7-keV gamma rays following .sup.235 U alpha decay to .sup.231 Th which indicate .sup.235 U content and a 63-keV gamma ray doublet found in the nucleus of .sup.234 Pa, a granddaughter of .sup.238 U, are monitored and the ratio thereof taken to derive uranium content and isotopic enrichment .sup.235 U/.sup.235 U + .sup.238 U) in the liquid effluent. Thorium content is determined by monitoring the intensity of 238-keV gamma rays from the nucleus of .sup.212 Bi in the decay chain of .sup.232 Th.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 1976},
month = {Tue Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 1976}
}