Separation of actinides by extraction chromatography prior to X-ray fluorescence measurement for analytical control of a PUREX test

Abstract

Five separation methods by Eichrom column extraction chromatography were developed and implemented for performance control of a PUREX (Plutonium, Uranium Refining by EXtraction) test.Four of them, concerning the separation between actinides, are described in this work. The latest, concerning the separation of actinides from fission products in a main raffinate is described in another article submitted to the same journal.For the production of U, Pu and Np streams following the “main extraction” step in the PUREX process, it is necessary to determine the concentration of the two residual actinides in the third actinide stream:A final separation method was developed to quantify the residual U in a Pu/Np flow for the Np/Pu partitioning step of the PUREX process. This separation is a prerequisite for LXF to eliminate any interference due to Pu and Np when measuring the U concentration.These separation methods necessary upstream from the LXF measurement were applied during the PUREX test in 2005 in ATALANTE (French acronym for “Alpha facilities and analysis laboratories, transuranics and reprocessing research”).

Combined, sequential procedure for determination of 137Cs, 40K, 63Ni, 90Sr, 230,232Th, 234,238U, 237Np, 238,239+240Pu and 241Am applied for study on contamination of soils near Żarnowiec Lake (northern Poland)

“…Each sub-samples (~10 g) were ashed in 400 °C for about 5 h. Then, radioactive tracers ( 242 Pu, 232 U, 229 Th, 239 Np, 243 Am, 85 Sr) and stable nickel (as a tracer for 63 Ni analyses) were added, all determined by weight using analytical balance. 239 Np as an isotope with short half live time (2.36 d) [ 5 ] was milked from 243 Am generator and spiked to the samples directly before digestion [ 6 ]. The same activity of 239 Np that was added to the samples was also kept for comparative measurement in order to estimate radiochemical recovery of the used method (by gamma spectrometry) and to check purity of obtained tracer (by mass spectrometry).…”

Americium, curium and neodymium analysis in ECRIX-H irradiated pellet: sample preparation for TIMS measurements

“…1.144 ± 0.057 g/mL 1.154 ± 0.058 g/mL Weighing a: Because spectral interference, a selelective separation of U in a main Pu flow [7] was need. analysis protocols and to guarantee that the quantities implemented are sufficient for the intended analytical techniques.…”