Waste reduction and process improvements in the analysis of plutonium by X-ray fluorescence: Results from multiple data sets

Abstract

To minimize waste, improve process safety, and reduce costs, modifications were implemented to a method for quantifying gallium in plutonium metal using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence. These changes included reducing sample sizes, reducing ion exchange process volumes, using cheaper reagent grade acids, eliminating the use of HF acid, and using more robust containment films for sample analysis. Relative precision and accuracy achieved from analyzing multiple aliquots from a single parent sample were approximately 0.2 and 0.1%, respectively. The same precision was obtained from analyzing a total of four parent materials, and the average relative accuracy from all the samples was 0.4%, which is within programmatic uncertainty requirements.

Atomic spectrometry update—X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

“…The trueness of both techniques was evaluated by the standard addition method with recoveries reported for SR-TXRF and EDXRF as 76 and 99% and limit of detection, 13 and 240 mg L À1 , respectively. Worley et al 150 addressed concerns common to many laboratory managers, namely, the reduction of both waste and costs and an improvement in process safety. Their method was related to the quantification of Ga in plutonium by WDXRF.…”