Determining yttrium in plutonium by anion-exchange x-ray fluorescence

Abstract

This report describes a method for determining yttrium in plutonium using an anionexchange separation and x-ray fluorescence. We add zirconium to the plutonium solution as an internal standard. We oxidize the plutonium to Pu+4 and pass the solution through an anion-exchange cohmn with 8M HCl. The Pu+4 sorbs to the resin and the yttrium and zirconium pass through completely. We evaporate the eluate solution containing the yttrium and zirconium and' transfer it to a 10-ml volumetric flask. We add a portion of this solution to an x-ray cell and measure the Ka x-ray line for both yttrium and zirconium. The ratio of yttrium to zirconium is then compared with standards. This method has a precision of 0.84% relative standard deviation for yttrium over a concentration range of 0.5 to 3.5 mg in a 10-ml volume.

Optimization of a dried residue specimen preparation method for quantifying analytes in plutonium metal using WDXRF

“…Analytical methods for quantifying elements in plutonium metal are critical to numerous nuclear materials applications. A straightforward method for quantifying gallium in plutonium metal by WDXRF has been previously reported ͑Martell and Hansel, 1988;Worley, 2003͒. In this process the metal was dissolved with HCl, and the plutonium was removed with ion exchange chromatography to minimize the amount of radioactive material analyzed outside of a glove box and eliminate matrix effects. Although plutonium metal can be analyzed directly by WDXRF, it oxidizes rapidly, an internal standard cannot be added, and the analyte signal is affected by severe matrix effects.…”