Americium, curium and neodymium analysis in ECRIX-H irradiated pellet: sample preparation for TIMS measurements

Eric Esbelin (1) , E. Buravand (1) , S. Bejaoui (1) , J. Lamontagne (2) , J. M Bonnerot (1)

1 CEA-DES (ex-DEN) - CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire)
2 LM2C - Laboratoire de Modélisation Multi-échelles des Combustibles

This paper concerns quantitative isotopic analysis of Am, Cm and Nd contained in an irradiated AmO 1.62 /MgO pellet. The complete analysis protocol is described, from dissolution of the pellets in a shielded line to the laboratory glove separation processes box for TIMS analysis. Emphasis is placed on the separation processes: by ion exchange resin in a hot cell and by HPLC in the laboratory. Intermediate measurements by X-ray fluorescence, alpha spectrometry, and ICP-AES are described.

Keywords: Isotopic dilution; Chromatography; HPLC; Neodymium; Curium; Americium

Domains: Chemical Sciences; Analytical chemistry

Eric Esbelin, E. Buravand, S. Bejaoui, J. Lamontagne, J. M Bonnerot. Americium, curium and neodymium analysis in ECRIX-H irradiated pellet: sample preparation for TIMS measurements. Radiochimica Acta, 2013, 101 (5), pp.293-300. ⟨10.1524/ract.2013.2038⟩. ⟨cea-02267580⟩