Determination of Np-237, Zr-93 and other long-lived radionuclides in medium and low level radioactive waste samples

作者:Osvath Sz*; Vajda N; Molnar Zs; Szeles E; Stefanka Zs
来源:Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2010, 286(3): 675-680.
DOI:10.1007/s10967-010-0738-7

摘要

The majority of long-lived radionuclides produced in the nuclear fuel cycle can be regarded as "difficult-to-measure" nuclides, hence chemical separation is needed before the nuclear measurement of them. A combined radiochemical procedure that enables the simultaneous determination of some "difficult-to-measure" nuclides in medium and low level radioactive wastes has been developed in our laboratory. Recently, this method has been extended for determination of Np-237 and Zr-93. Np-237 and Zr-93 are pre-concentrated by co-precipitation on iron(II) hydroxide and zirconium oxide, separated by extraction chromatography using UTEVA, and measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As even traces of polyatomic ions and isotopes at m/z 237 or 93 cause considerable interferences during ICP-MS detection, a purification step by extraction chromatography was needed. Analyzing real samples (evaporation concentrates of a nuclear power plant) 66-99% and 31-99% chemical yields were achieved for Np and Zr, respectively.

  • 出版日期2010-12