ASTM C1636-13

Standard Guide for the Determination of Uranium-232 in Uranium Hexafluoride

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The method is applicable to the analysis of materials to demonstrate compliance with the specifications set forth in Specifications C787 and C996. Some other specifications may be expressed in terms of mass of  232U per mass of only  238U (see ISO 21847–3:2007).
SCOPE
1.1 This method covers the determination of  232U in uranium hexafluoride by alpha spectrometry.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 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 to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2012
• ICS: 27.120.30 - Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C1636 −13
Standard Guide for the
1
Determination of Uranium-232 in Uranium Hexafluoride
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1636; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Spectrometry—Part 3: Determination of uranium-232 in
232
uranium and its compounds.
1.1 This method covers the determination of U in ura-
nium hexafluoride by alpha spectrometry.
3. Terminology
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions:
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.1 region-of-interest (ROI)—the channels, or region, in
standard.
the alpha spectra in which the counts due to a specific
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
radioisotope appear on a functioning calibrated alpha spec-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
trometry system.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.2 Reagent blank—DI water processed the same as the
priate safety and health practices and to determine the
samples; used in the determination of the minimum detectable
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
activity.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Summary of Guide
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C787 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride for Enrich- 4.1 An aliquot of hydrolyzed uranium hexafluoride equiva-
lent to 60 micrograms of uranium is converted to a nitric acid
ment
C996 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride Enriched to system and the uranium is extracted onto a solid phase
235
extraction column. The daughters of uranium decay products
Less Than 5 % U
C1163 Practice for MountingActinides forAlpha Spectrom- are rinsed from the column and the uranium is then selectively
eluted. The uranium is reduced and then coprecipitated with
etry Using Neodymium Fluoride
C1284 Practice for Electrodeposition of the Actinides for neodymium fluoride. Test Method C1163 provides further
information on the use of neodymium fluoride to prepare
Alpha Spectrometry
C1474 Test Method forAnalysis of Isotopic Composition of actinide mounts for alpha spectrometry. The sample is then
232
counted by alpha spectrometry, and the U is calculated
Uranium in Nuclear-Grade Fuel Material by Quadrupole
based on the observed activities of the uranium isotopes in the
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water alpha spectra.
D3084 Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
4.2 While this guide does not present details on electrode-
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
position as an alternative to neodymium fluoride precipitation
2.2 Other Standards
for the preparation of a mount for alpha spectrometry Practice
232
DIN 25711 Determination of the U isotopic content in
C1284 does present details on that option.
uranium containing nuclear fuel solutions by α spectrom-
4.3 Alternate separation chemistry approaches may be
3
etry.
foundintheliterature.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofsuch
ISO 21847–3 Nuclear Fuel Technology—Alpha
alternative separation approaches to validate there
effectiveness, especially the removal of potentially interfering
thorium isotopes (section 6.1).
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2013. Published January 2013. Originally
5. Significance and Use
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as C1636 – 06a. DOI:
5.1 The method is applicable to the analysis of materials to
10.1520/C1636-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
demonstrate compliance with the specifications set forth in
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Specifications C787 and C996. Some other specifications may
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
232 238
be expressed in terms of mass of U per mass of only U
the ASTM website.
3
Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., Berlin, Germany (www.din.de). (see ISO 21847–3:2007).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C1636−13
6. Interferences 8.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
228 to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined
6.1 Incomplete removal of Th could possibly interfere
232 in Specification D1193.
withthe Udetermination.MethodDIN 25711addressesthe
potential capability for this method t
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C1636 − 06a C1636 − 13
Standard Guide for the
1
Determination of Uranium-232 in Uranium Hexafluoride
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1636; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
232
1.1 This method covers the determination of U in uranium hexafluoride by alpha spectrometry.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 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 to determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C787 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride for Enrichment
235
C996 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride Enriched to Less Than 5 % U
C1163 Practice for Mounting Actinides for Alpha Spectrometry Using Neodymium Fluoride
C1284 Practice for Electrodeposition of the Actinides for Alpha Spectrometry
C1474 Test Method for Analysis of Isotopic Composition of Uranium in Nuclear-Grade Fuel Material by Quadrupole
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D3084 Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
2.2 Other Standards
232 3
DIN 25711 Determination of the U isotopic content in uranium containing nuclear fuel solutions by α spectrometry.
ISO 21847–3 Nuclear Fuel Technology—Alpha Spectrometry—Part 3: Determination of uranium-232 in uranium and its
compounds.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 region-of-interest (ROI)—the channels, or region, in the alpha spectra in which the counts due to a specific radioisotope
appear on a functioning calibrated alpha spectrometry system.
3.1.2 Reagent blank—DI water processed the same as the samples; used in the determination of the minimum detectable activity.
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 An aliquot of hydrolyzed uranium hexafluoride equivalent to 60 micrograms of uranium is converted to a nitric acid system
and the uranium is extracted onto a solid phase extraction column. The daughters of uranium decay products are rinsed from the
column and the uranium is then selectively eluted. The uranium is reduced and then coprecipitated with neodymium fluoride. Test
Method C1163 provides further information on the use of neodymium fluoride to prepare actinide mounts for alpha spectrometry.
232
The sample is then counted by alpha spectrometry, and the U is calculated based on the observed activities of the uranium
isotopes in the alpha spectra.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test.
Current edition approved July 1, 2006Jan. 1, 2013. Published July 2006January 2013. Originally approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as
C1636 – 06.C1636 – 06a. DOI: 10.1520/C1636-06A.10.1520/C1636-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., Berlin, Germany (www.din.de).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C1636 − 13
4.2 While this guide does not present details on electrodeposition as an alternative to neodymium fluoride precipitation for the
preparation of a mount for alpha spectrometry Practice C1284 does present details on that option.
4.3 Alternate separation chemistry approaches may be found in the literature. It is the responsibility of the user of such
alternative separation approaches to validate there effectiveness, especially the removal of potentially interfering thorium isotopes
(section 6.1).
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The method is applicable to the analysis of materials to demonstrate compliance with the specifications set forth in
232 238
Specifications C787 and C996. Some other specifications may be expressed in terms of mass of U per mass
...