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A Method for Determining the Isotope Composition of U, Pu, Am, and Cm in "Hot" Particles and Spent Nuclear Fuel

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Radiochemistry Aims and scope

Abstract

A method was proposed for determining the content of 234-238U, 238-242Pu, 241-243Am, and 242-244Cm in "hot" fuel particles and spent nuclear fuel. The method is based on high-precision measurement of the α-activity in the sample and calculation of the relative contributions of individual nuclides or radionuclide groups to the total activity. Partitioning of U, Pu, Am, and Cm was carried out by ion-exchange chromatography. The contents of 234U, 236U, 238U, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 242Pu, 241Am, 242mAm, 243Am, 242Cm, and 244Cm in "hot" particles sampled in the Chernobyl area were reported. The applicability of the method proposed to determining the radionuclide composition of spent nuclear fuel was discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shelter Interbranch Scientific and Technical Center, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Chernobyl, Kiev oblast, Ukraine

    A. A. Odintsov & E. M. Pazukhin

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  1. A. A. Odintsov
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  2. E. M. Pazukhin
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Odintsov, A.A., Pazukhin, E.M. A Method for Determining the Isotope Composition of U, Pu, Am, and Cm in "Hot" Particles and Spent Nuclear Fuel. Radiochemistry 46, 306–311 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RACH.0000031695.05314.8f

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RACH.0000031695.05314.8f

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