The in-plant evaluation of a uranium NDA system
The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has an unirradiated enriched uranium reprocessing facility. Various types of solutions are generated in this facility, including distillates and raffinates containing ppm of uranium and concentrated solutions with up to 400 grams U/t. In addition to uranyl nitrate and HNO{sub 3}, the solutions may also contain zirconium, niobium, fluoride, and small amounts of many metals. A uranium solution assay system (USAS) has been installed to allow accurate and more timely process control, accountability, and criticality data to be obtained. The USAS assays are made by a variety of techniques that depend upon state-of-the-art high-resolution Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectroscopy integrated with an interactive, user-oriented computer software package. Tight control of the system`s performance is maintained by constantly monitoring the USAS status. Daily measurement control sequences are required, and the user is forced by the software to perform these sequences. Routine assays require 400 or 1000 seconds for a precision of 0.5% over the concentration range of 5--400 g/t. A comparison of the USAS precision and accuracy with that obtained by traditional destructive analytical chemistry techniques (colorimetric and volumetric) is presented.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 10172138
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-79-3216; CONF-791117-29; ON: DE92019910
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ANS topical conference,Charleston, SC (United States),26-19 Nov 1979; Other Information: PBD: [1979]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The application of visible absorption spectroscopy to the analysis of uranium in aqueous solutions
CoDCon Project (Final Report)