ASTM C1636-06

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

SCOPE
1.1 This method covers the determination of  232U in uranium hexafluoride by alpha spectrometry.
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-2005
• ICS: 27.120.30 - Fissile materials and nuclear fuel technology
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C1636-06a - Standard Guide for the Determination of Uranium-232 in Uranium Hexafluoride
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2006

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: C 1636 – 06a
Standard Guide for the
1
Determination of Uranium-232 in Uranium Hexafluoride
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1636; 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 (ε) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.2 Reagent blank—DI water processed the same as the
232
samples; used in the determination of the minimum detectable
1.1 This method covers the determination of U in ura-
activity.
nium hexafluoride by alpha spectrometry.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Summary of Guide
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 An aliquot of hydrolyzed uranium hexafluoride equiva-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
lent to 60 micrograms of uranium is converted to a nitric acid
priate safety and health practices and to determine the
system and the uranium is extracted onto a solid phase
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
extraction column. The daughters of uranium decay products
2. Referenced Documents are rinsed from the column and the uranium is then selectively
2 eluted. The uranium is reduced and then coprecipitated with
2.1 ASTM Standards:
neodymium fluoride. Test Method C 1163 provides further
C 787 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride for Enrich-
information on the use of neodymium fluoride to prepare
ment
actinide mounts for alpha spectrometry. The sample is then
C 996 Specification for Uranium Hexafluoride Enriched to
232
235
counted by alpha spectrometry, and the U is calculated
Less Than 5 % U
based on the observed activities of the uranium isotopes in the
C 1163 Practice for Mounting Actinides for Alpha Spec-
alpha spectra.
trometry Using Neodymium Fluoride
4.2 While this guide does not present details on electrode-
C 1284 Practice for Electrodeposition of the Actinides for
position as an alternative to neodymium fluoride precipitation
Alpha Spectrometry
for the preparation of a mount for alpha spectrometry Practice
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
C 1284 does present details on that option.
D 3084 Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
4.3 Alternate separation chemistry approaches may be
D 3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
foundintheliterature.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofsuch
2.2 Other Standards
232
alternative separation approaches to validate there effective-
DIN 25711 Determination of the U isotopic content in
ness, especially the removal of potentially interfering thorium
uranium containing nuclear fuel solutions by α spectrom-
3 isotopes (section 6.1).
etry.
5. Significance and Use
3. Terminology
5.1 The method is applicable to the analysis of materials to
3.1 Definitions:
demonstrate compliance with the specifications set forth in
3.1.1 region-of-interest (ROI)—the channels, or region, in
Specifications C 787 and C 996.
the alpha spectra in which the counts due to a specific
radioisotope appear on a functioning calibrated alpha spec-
6. Interferences
trometry system.
228
6.1 Incomplete removal of Th could possibly interfere
232
withthe Udetermination.MethodDIN 25711addressesthe
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel
potential capability for this method to eliminate this potential
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test.
interference.
Current edition approved July 1, 2006. Published July 2006. Originally approved
232
6.2 Since only the relative amount of U, relative to total
in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as C 1636–06.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
uranium, is being determined in this method there is no impact
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
to chemical loss in the separation or sample mounting chem-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
istry. Therefore, unlike most alpha spectrometry methods, no
the ASTM website.
3
yield tracer is necessary or useful.
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.
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C 1636 – 06a
235 236
6.3 The alpha emission energies of U and U are 8.9 Hydrofluoric acid (minimum 48 % assay)—
relatively close. Thus there is the potential for overlap of Concentrated HF, reagent grade.
counts from one isotope into the ROI of the other. Where the
Warning—Severe burns can result from exposure of skin to
alpha spectrometry system (sect
...