Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An evaluation of the delayed neutron counting method for simultaneous analysis of uranium and thorium and for235U/238U isotopic ratio determination

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes an evaluation of activation analysis by delayed neutron counting to determine uranium and thorium simultaneously in geological materials and to measure235U/238U isotopic ratios. A procedure to isolate the thorium before the irradiation was studied and adapted for use when the interference of uranium makes the nondestructive thorium analysis impossible.235U/238U ratios were determined in standards with235U abundances from about 0.5 to 93%, in milligram size samples. Discussion on precision, accuracy and total error of the method is presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. W. ECHO, E. H. TURCK, Determination of235U by delayed neutron counting, Oak Ridge, Tn. TID-7531, 1959, p. 157.

  2. S. AMIEL, Anal. Chem., 34 (1962) 1683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. F. F. DYER, J. F. EMERY, G. W. LEDDICOTTE, A Comprehensive Study of the Neutron Activation Analysis of Uranium by Delayed Neutron Counting, ORNL-3342 Art., 1962.

  4. N. H. GALE, Proc. Symp. Radioactive dating and methods of low level counting, in Monaco, 2–10 March, 1967, p. 431.

  5. K. W. MACMURDO, W. W. BOWMAN, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 141 (1977) 299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M. C. B. SMIT, The determination of uranium in geological material by delayed neutron counting, PEL-248, 1976.

  7. R. J. ROSENBERG, V. PITKANEN, A. SORSA, J. Radioanal. Chem., 37 (1977) 169.

    Google Scholar 

  8. F. CAVALLARI, M. TERRANI, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 79 (1970) 69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. H. O. MENLOVE, R. W. AUGUSTSON, D. B. SMITH, Nucl. Technol., 10 (1971) 366.

    Google Scholar 

  10. F. W. LIMA, M. B. A. VASCONCELLOS, M. J. A. ARMELIN, R. FULFARO, V. J. FULFARO, B. B. B. NEVES, J. Radioanal. Chem., 71 (1982) 311.

    Google Scholar 

  11. M. B. A. VASCONCELLOS, M. J. A. ARMELIN, R. FULFARO, F. W. LIMA, A comparative study of some methods for the determination of uranium used at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN Pub-17, 1980.

  12. H. KAISER, Anal. Chem., 42 (1970) 26A.

    Google Scholar 

  13. G. L. LONG, J. D. WINEFORDNER, Anal. Chem., 55 (1983) 712A.

    Google Scholar 

  14. L. PSZONICKI, A. N. HANNA, O. SUSCHUNY, Report on intercomparisons S-14, S-15 and S-16 of the determination of uranium and thorium in thorium ores. Vienna, IAEA, (IAEA/RL/101), 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  15. H. T. MILLARD, Jr., B. A. KEATEN, J. Radioanal. Chem., 72 (1982) 489.

    Google Scholar 

  16. J. KORKISCH, F. TERA, Anal. Chem., 33 (1961) 1264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A. WALD, Ann. Math. Stat., 11 (1940) 284.

    Google Scholar 

  18. E. F. McFARREN, R. J. LISHKA, J. H. PARKER, Anal. Chem., 42 (1970) 358.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiochemistry Division, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares-CNEN/SP, Caixa Postal 11049, 05499, São Paulo, SP, (Brasil)

    M. J. A. Armelin & M. B. A. Vasconcellos

Authors
  1. M. J. A. Armelin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. B. A. Vasconcellos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

From a thesis submitted by M. J. A. ARMELIN to the University of São Paulo in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Doctor of Science Degree in Nuclear Technology.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Armelin, M.J.A., Vasconcellos, M.B.A. An evaluation of the delayed neutron counting method for simultaneous analysis of uranium and thorium and for235U/238U isotopic ratio determination. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 100, 37–47 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036497

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036497

Keywords

Search

Navigation