Anion-Exchange Separation of Nd and the Transplutonium Elements in Spent Nuclear Fuels for Burn-up Determination

Abstract
Three methods of anion-exchange separation of Nd, Am, and Cm from spent nuclear fuel samples for destructive burn-up measurements with nitric acid-methyl alcohol mixed media have been developed. The first method was developed for the routine analysis of Nd by isotope dilution mass spectrometry to separate Nd from Am and Cm as well as from major fission products, U and Pu, on a conventional anion-exchange resin with 1 M HNO3−90% CH3OH and 0.5 M HNO3−80% CH3OH media at ambient temperature. The second method quantitatively separates Nd, Am, and Cm using a fine resin and a 0.5 M HNO3−80% CH3OH medium at a considerably slower flow rate at ambient temperature. The third method is a more rapid separation: the preliminary separation of irradiated U at elevated pressure is followed by the sequential elutions of Nd, Am, and Cm at elevated temperature and pressure

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