• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.3745-3748
• /
• 2012

This study presents a rapid and simple ${\alpha}$ source preparation method for a radioactive waste sample. The recovery of $^{239}Pu$, $^{232}U$ and $^{243}Am$ using a micro-coprecipitation method was over 95%. The ${\alpha}$-peak resolution of Pu and Am isotopes through the micro-coprecipitation method is enough to discriminate the Pu and Am isotopes from other Pu and Am isotopes. The determination of the Pu and Am isotopes using the micro-coprecipitation method was applied to the radioactive waste sample, so that the activity concentrations of the Pu and Am isotopes using the micro-coprecipitation method in the radioactive waste sample were similar to those using the electrodeposition method.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.1162-1166
• /
• 2008

In this paper, several parameters affecting the sensitivity and determining the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for the measurement of the Pu isotopes were investigated. Among the parameters affecting the determination of the MDA values for the Pu isotopes in the environmental samples, amounts of the samples appeared to be crucial factors in decreasing the MDA values. The MDA for the Pu isotopes in the environmental samples were calculated by varying the counting time of the samples and background. The results obtained in this study can be used for an environmental radiation monitoring program regarding the level of concern for a radionuclide beyond which some action may need to be taken.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.191-195
• /
• 2001

An accurate and simple analytical technique for low levels of fallout Pu in the environment was developed using an anion exchange resin. To develop the reliable determination of Pu isotopes in soil samples, decomposition of soil matrix, plutonium oxidation state adjustment on the anion exchange column and source preparation of Pu isotopes have been carried out. The optimum method of Pu isotopes with an anion exchange has been validated by application to IAEA-Reference soils.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.140-144
• /
• 2018

Isotopic analyses of plutonium and low-enriched uranium mixtures with particle sizes of $0.6-3.3{\mu}m$ were performed using thermal ionization mass spectrometry with a continuous heating method to verify its effectiveness for the accurate analysis of minor isotopes without sample pretreatment. The mixed particles used in this study were prepared from a mixed solution of plutonium (SRM 947) and uranium (U010, $^{235}U$ 1% enriched) reference materials. The isotope ratios for plutonium in the individual mixed particles, including $^{238}Pu/^{239}Pu$, $^{241}Pu/^{239}Pu$ as well as $^{240}Pu/^{239}Pu$, and $^{242}Pu/^{239}Pu$, were in good agreement with the certified values despite the isobaric interference of $^{238}U$ and $^{241}Am$. The isotope ratios for uranium in the mixed particles also agreed well with the certified values within the range of error. However, the isotope ratios for minor isotopes, such as $^{234}U$ and $^{236}U$, in the particles with diameters of less than approximately $1.8{\mu}m$ could not be measured because numbers of $^{234}U$ and $^{236}U$ atoms in analyzed particles are too low. These results indicate that thermal ionization mass spectrometry with a continuous heating method is applicable for the analysis of trace amounts of plutonium isotopes, including $^{238}Pu$ and $^{241}Pu$, despite the presence of the respective isobars $^{238}U$ and $^{241}Am$ in the microsamples.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a quantitative method of sequential separation of $^{90}Sr,\;^{241}Am$ and Pu nuclides with an anion exchange resin and a Sr-Spec resin. The Pu isotopes were purified with an anion exchange resin. The americium and strontium fractions were separated from the matrix elements with an oxalate co-precipitation method. Americium fraction was separated from the strontium fraction with iron co-precipitation method and purified from lanthanides with anion exchange resin. Strontium-90 was purified from other hindrance elements with the Sr-Spec resin after oxalate co-precipitation. The measurement of Pu and Am isotopes was carried out by an ${\alpha}$-spectrometer. Strontium-90 was measured by a liquid scintillation counter. The radiochemical procedure of $^{90}Sr,\;^{241}Am$ and Pu nuclides investigated in this study has been validated by application to IAEA-Reference soils.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
• /
• 1998.05b
• /
• pp.551-556
• /
• 1998

The correlation of isotope composition of Zr with the turnup and some heavy isotopes in PWR uranium dioxide fuel has been investigated. The total and partial ($^{235}$ U) burnup were determined by $^{148Nd}$ and by U and Pu mass spectrometric method, respectively. After separating Zr from the fuel samples, its isotope composition was measured by mass spectrometry. In addition, the quantities of the U and Pu in the spent fuel were determined by isotope di lution mass spectrometric method using $^{233}$ U and $^{242}$ Pu as spikes. The content of some heavy isotopes, $^{235}$ U, $^{239}$ Pu and $^{241}$ Pu, and the Pu Contribution to total turnup were expressed by the correlation with Zr isotope ratios, $^{91}$ Zr/$^{96}$ Zr and $^{93}$ Zr/$^{96}$ Zr The correlations by isotope compositions measured were compared wi th those calculated from ORIGEN2 code.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.469-474
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a quantitative method of sequential separation of $^{90}Sr$, $^{241}Am$ and Pu radionuclides with an anion exchange resin and a Sr-Spec resin. The Pu isotopes were purified with an anion exchange resin. The americium and strontium fractions were separated from the matrix elements with an oxalate co-precipitation method. Americium fraction was separated from the strontium fraction with iron co-precipitation method and purified from lanthanides with anion exchange resin. Strontium-90 was purified from other hindrance elements with the Sr-Spec resin after oxalate co-precipitation. The measurement of Pu and Am isotopes was carried out by an ${\alpha}$-spectrometer. Strontium-90 was measured by a liquid scintillation counter. The radiochemical procedure of $^{90}Sr$, $^{241}Am$ and Pu radionuclides investigated in this study has been validated by application to IAEA-Reference soils.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 1999

$^{239+240}Pu$ concentrations in precipitation were determined for the period of May 1994 to August 1996 in oder to describe current $^{239+240}Pu$ deposition at the mid-western coat of Korea (Ansan, 37$^{\circ}$17'N, $126^{\circ}$50'E). $^{239+240}Pu$ concentration in daily precipitation varied from 0.05 to 131$\mu$Bq $kg^{-1}$ with a geometric mean of $1.26\mu$Bq $kg^{-1}$. The concentration was high in the period of Yellow Sand Storm in spring and low in wet summer monsoon. The specific $^{239+240}Pu$ concentration in daily precipitation appears to be controlled by the $^{239+240}Pu$ input to the atmosphere in spring and washout effects by precipitation in the wet summer monsoon. Wet depositional flux of $^{239+240}Pu$ varied from 4 to 123$\mu$Bq $m^{-2}d^{-1}$ with a geometric mean of $33.8\mu$Bq $m^{-2}d^{-1}$ and with a maximum in the period of Yellow Sand Storm and a minimum in the period of wet summer monsoon. $^{238}Pu$/$^{239+240}Pu$ activity raios(0.04~0.31) in precipitation for March-June period suggested that one of the major sources of Pu isotopes falling in Ansan area is the arid region of the Chinese continent.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.514-519
• /
• 2004

Soil samples collected from around the BOMARC Missile Site were measured for their activity concentrations and isotopic ratios of Pu and Am isotopes with particle sizes. The activity concentrations of Pu and Am in the BOMARC soil were remarkably higher than the fallout levels, and the activities decreased nearly exponentially with an increasing particle size of the soil due to a decreasing surface area. The activity ratios of Pu-238 / Pu-239, 240, Pu-241 / Pu-239, 240 and Am-241 / Pu-239, 240 observed in the BOMARC soil were much lower than those attributed to the nuclear reprocess plants and the Chernobyl fallout. Also, the atomic ratio of Pu-240 / Pu-239 in the BOMARC soil was remarkably lower than the fallout value influenced by the nuclear weapons testing and the Chernobyl accident. The atomic ratio of Pu-240 / Pu-239 was so close to the value of the weapons grade Pu released from the crash of a B52 plane in the Thule of the Greenland, such that the Pu isotopes detected in the BOMARC soil could have originated from the weapons grade plutonium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
• /
• 1999.05a
• /
• pp.394-394
• /
• 1999