Abstract
A simple and effective method has been developed for the determination of the transuranium isotopes in primary coolant samples of WWER-440 type reactors. Membrane filters containing undissolved particles from about one liter coolant were destroyed by mineral acids, then americium-curium isotopes and neptunium-plutonium isotopes were coprecipitated sequentially with NdF3 based on their different redox behavior. Alpha-spectra were determined by silicon semiconductor detectors connected to multichannel analyzers. Activity ratios measured in a reactor unit with a failed fuel element were compared with calculated values of the same type of reactor under similar conditions. Parameters of the defective fuel (burnup, original enrichment) could be estimated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. W. SILL, Nucl. Chem. Waste Manag., 7 (1987) 201.
W. MOLLER, H. BURMESTER, Calculation of passive neutron emission from spent WWER-440 fuel, Technical report SAAS-347, Staatliches Amt für Atomsicherheit und Strahlenschutz, 1987.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vajda, N., Larosa, J., Pintér, T. et al. Analysis of actinides in the primary coolant of a WWER-440 type reactor. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 170, 399–409 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02041476
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02041476