Abstract
A precise non-destructive radioisotope X-ray fluorescence method for uranium and thorium concentration measurements was developed. A beta-emitting90Sr−90Y source was used for excitation of characteristic X-ray lines. It is proved that the beta-excited X-ray fluorescence method (in spite of the significant bremsstrahlung intensity) has essential advantages for analysis of high concentrations of U and Th, characteristic for nuclear power cycle materials, because of the higher sensitivity of the method. (3% changes of the intensity per 1% change of the concentration.) Portable semiconductor or scintillation detectors and multichannel analysers are used for detection of analytical lines. The accuracy achieved by this method is 0.2–0.3% for 15 minutes measurement and 0.1 mCi activity of the source.
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This work was performed under contract with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
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Dragnev, T.N., Karamanova, J. & Damianov, B. Precise non-destructive X-ray fluorescence method for uranium and thorium concentration measurements. J. Radioanal. Chem. 52, 439–448 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02521295
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02521295