Measuring the noble metal and iodine composition of extracted noble metal phase from spent nuclear fuel using instrumental neutron activation analysis. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palomares, R.I.; Dayman, K.J.; Landsberger, S.; Biegalski, S.R.; Soderquist, C.Z.; Casella, A.J.; Brady Raap, M.C.; Schwantes, J.M.
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 98(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Noble metal and iodine composition -- Spent nuclear fuel -- Neutron activation analysis; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.01.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: Masses of noble metal and iodine nuclides in the metallic noble metal phase extracted from spent fuel are measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Nuclide presence is predicted using fission yield analysis, and radionuclides are identified and the masses quantified using neutron activation analysis. The nuclide compositions of noble metal phase derived from two dissolution methods, UO2 fuel dissolved in nitric acid and UO2 fuel dissolved in ammonium-carbonate and hydrogen-peroxide solution, are compared. Highlights: The noble metal phase was chemically extracted from spent nuclear fuel and analyzed non-destructively. Noble metal phase nuclides and long-lived iodine were identified and quantified using neutron activation analysis. Activation to shorter-lived radionuclides allowed rapid analysis of long-lived fission products in spent fuel using gamma spectrometry.