ASTM C1414-01

Standard Practice for the Separation of Americium from Plutonium by Ion Exchange

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the use of an ion exchange technique to separate plutonium from solutions containing low concentrations of americium prior to measurement of the 241Am by gamma counting.
1.2 This practice covers the removal of plutonium, but not all the other radioactive isotopes that may interfere in the determination of 241Am.
1.3 This practice can be used when 241Am is to be determined in samples in which the plutonium is in the form of metal, oxide, or other solid provided that the solid is appropriately sampled and dissolved (See Test Methods C758, C759, and C1168).
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2001
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1414-99 - Standard Practice for the Separation of Americium from Plutonium by Ion Exchange
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2001
• Replaced By: ASTM C1414-01(2007) - Standard Practice for The Separation of Americium from Plutonium by Ion Exchange
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2007

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:C1414–01
Standard Practice for
The Separation of Americium from Plutonium by Ion
1
Exchange
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1414; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Summary of Practice
1.1 This practice describes the use of an ion exchange 3.1 Plutonium is adsorbed from a nitric acid (HNO ) solu-
3
technique to separate plutonium from solutions containing low tion (8 M) onto an anion exchange resin. Under these condi-
concentrations of americium prior to measurement of tions, a negligible amount of americium is adsorbed onto the
241
the Am by gamma counting. resin and may be determined by gamma counting of the eluate
1.2 This practice covers the removal of plutonium, but not using Test Method C 1268.
all the other radioactive isotopes that may interfere in the
241
4. Significance and Use
determination of Am.
241
4.1 This practice is applicable when small amounts
1.3 This practice can be used when Am is to be deter-
241
mined in samples in which the plutonium is in the form of of Am are present in plutonium samples (see Test Methods
241
C 758 and C 759). An example is the determination of Am
metal, oxide, or other solid provided that the solid is appropri-
238 238
ately sampled and dissolved (See Test Methods C 758, C 759, in a Pu sample. The high specific activity of Pu presents
a safety hazard that precludes its presence in a counting
and C 1168).
238
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the facility. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the Pu prior to
241
the determination of Am.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.2 Whenaplutoniumsolutioncontainsfissionoractivation
products, this practice does not separate all radionuclides that
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
241
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. interfere in the determination of Am, such as the rare earths.
5. Interferences
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The presence of other gamma-ray emitting radionu-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
241
C 758 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrometric, clides similar in energy to Am or that interfere with gamma
241
counting make the determination of Am less accurate. Most
Spectrochemical, Nuclear and Radiochemical Analysis of
2
Nuclear-Grade Plutonium Metal +4valenceactinidesareadsorbedontheresin.Thedistribution
coefficient for Am on this resin in nitric acid is less than 1,
C 759 Test Methods for Chemical, Mass Spectrochemical,
Nuclear, and Radiochemical Analysis of Nuclear-Grade indicating insignificant adsorption.Therefore, this practice will
2
separate many elements that might interfere with gamma
Plutonium Nitrate Solutions
241
C 1168 Practice for Preparation and Dissolution of Pluto- counting of Am.
2
5.1.1 The elements thorium, neptunium (IV), gold, plati-
nium Materials for Analysis
C 1268 Test Method for the Quantitative Determination of num, iridium, and palladium are not quantitatively separated
from plutonium by this procedure.
Americium 241 in Plutonium by Gamma–Ray Spectrom-
2
etry
3 6. Apparatus
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
6.1 Anion exchange resin column (100-200 mesh), contain-
ing quaternary ammonium functional groups (basic resin-
4
chloride ionic form).
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear
6.2 Bottles, polyethylene, 30 mL.
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of
6.3 Sample beaker, 30 mL, borosilicate glass.
Test.
Current edition approved January 10, 2001. Published March 2001. Originally
published as C 1414–99. Last previous edition C 1414–99.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01. Prefilled columns packed with AG 1-X8, available from Bio-Rad, Richmond,
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. CA, have been found to be acceptable.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C1414
6.4 Hot plate. adsorption capacity of the ion exchange resin. A maximum of
50 mg of plutonium is suggested for the prefilled columns.
7. Reagents 8.2 Evaporate the sample to dryness on a hot plate.Add 3-4
mL of 8 M HNO and take to dryness again. Cool the sample
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals should be 3
toroomtemperatureandrepeatthedissolutionandevaporation
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
once more before proceeding to 8.3.
all reagents conform to t
...