Low-level determination of plutonium by gamma and L X-ray spectroscopy

H. Nitsche; R. Gatti; Sh. Lee

doi:10.1007/bf02040486

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 161: Issue 2

Low-level determination of plutonium by gamma and L X-ray spectroscopy

Authors:

H. Nitsche

H. Nitsche University of California, Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory mail Stop 70A-1150 94720 Berkeley CA (USA)

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R. Gatti

R. Gatti University of California, Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory mail Stop 70A-1150 94720 Berkeley CA (USA)

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Sh. Lee

Sh. Lee University of California, Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory mail Stop 70A-1150 94720 Berkeley CA (USA)

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Pages:: 401–411

Online Publication Date:: 14 Aug 2005

Publication Date:: 17 Aug 1992

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02040486

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Abstract

We have developed an analytical method for detection of²³⁹Pu in aqueous samples at concentrations as low as 10^–10M. This nuclear counting technique utilizes the uranium L X-rays, which follow the alpha-decay of plutonium. Because L X-rays are specific for the element and not for the individual isotope, the isotopic composition of the plutonium sample must be known. The counting efficiency in the 11–23 keV range is determined from a plutonium standard, and the concentration of the sample is then calculated from the L X-ray count and the isotopic composition. The total L X-ray count is corrected for possible contributions from other radionuclides present as impurities by measuring the low-energy gamma-spectrum for each contaminant to establish specific photon/X-ray ratios. The ratios are important when²⁴¹Pu and²⁴²Pu are measured, because the respective decay chain members produce non-U L X-rays. This new method can replace the use of labor-intensive radiochemical separation techniques and elaborate activation methods for analysis of²³⁹Pu in aqueous samples. It is also applicable for assaying plutonium in liquid wastes that pose possible hazards to the environment.

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)