ISOTOPE DILUTION THERMAL IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY USING UO~+ FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRACES OF U IN Pu CHEMICAL ASSAY REFERENCE MATERIAL

摘要

Determination of trace amounts of uranium (U) in plutonium (Pu) is important in nuclear technology for different reasons. A few are (a) purity and fissile content of the purified Pu as part of chemical quality assurance of purified or recycled PuO_2 and (b) for characterization of chemical assay reference materials of Pu. Usually electrochemical techniques are employed for the determination of traces of U in Pu. But, the technique is not sensitive below 5000 ppm of U in Pu. Radiometric and other analytical techniques can also be employed to a limited extent but it is necessary to separate U from Pu matrix. Hence, these techniques do not have the capability to be applied for certification.