Year: 1989
Type: article
Abstract: Conventional methods of nondestructive assay (NDA) have accurately assayed the plutonium content of many forms of relatively pure and homogeneous bulk items. However, physical and chemical heterogeneities and the high and variable impurity levels of many categories of processing scrap bias the conventional NDA results. The materials also present a significant challenge to the assignment of reference values to process materials for purposes of evaluating the NDA methods. A recent study using impure, heterogeneous, pyrochemical residues from americium molten salt extraction (MSE) has been aimed at evaluating NDA assay methods based on conventional gamma-ray and neutron measurement techniques and enhanced with analyses designed to address the problems of heterogeneities and impurities. The study included a significant effort to obtain reference values for the MSE spent salts used in the study. Two of the improved NDA techniques, suitable for in-line assay of plutonium in bulk, show promise for timely in-process assays for one of the most difficult pyrochemical residues generated as well as for other impure heterogeneous scrap categories. 12 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.
Authors: S.T. Hsue, D.G. Langner, V.L. Longmire, H.O. Menlove, Paolo Russo, J.K. Sprinkle
Language: English
Subfield: Radiation
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W98127481