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Title: Analysis of 161Tb by radiochemical separation and liquid scintillation counting

Journal Article · · Applied Radiation and Isotopes
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. AWE plc, Reading (United Kingdom)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

The determination of 161Tb activity is problematic due to its very low fission yield, short half-life, and the complication of its gamma spectrum. At AWE, radiochemically purified 161Tb solution was measured on a PerkinElmer 1220 QuantulusTM Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer. Since there was no 161Tb certified standard solution available commercially, the counting efficiency was determined by the CIEMAT/NIST Efficiency Tracing method. The method was validated during a recent inter-laboratory comparison exercise involving the analysis of a uranium sample irradiated with thermal neutrons. Lastly, the measured 161Tb result was in excellent agreement with the result using gamma spectrometry and the result obtained by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1250858
Journal Information:
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 117, Issue C; ISSN 0969-8043
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English