Rapid preparation of Uranium and Thorium alpha sources by electroplating technique
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Le Cong Hao
Abstract
In this study, a simple procedure for the radiochemical determination of thorium isotopes and a robust technique for rapid preparation of uranium and thorium alpha source by electro-deposition using organic buffer solution is described. From the experiments, experience has shown that (1) TOPO is one of the best solvent for the extraction of thorium, (2) isopropyl alcohol is a suitable buffer solution for the electrodepositing of uranium; while acetone is the best choice in case of thorium, (3) the possibility of using of organic phase; containing thorium in the final chemical separation step for electrodepositing, (4) the use of only 3–5 ml of isopropyl alcohol or acetone; 3–5 mm of anode-cathode distance and relatively current 4–15 mA for electro-deposition procedure, (5) the actinides can be deposited quantitatively on a stainless steel disk within 20 to 40 min with nearly 100% of electro-deposition efficiency and the energy resolution of alpha-ray spectra of the electrode-posited sources obtained from alpha spectrometry are within the range of 37–50 KeV (FWHM).
Kurzfassung
In dieser Untersuchung wird ein einfaches und robustes Verfahren zur radiochemischen Herstellung von Alphaquellen zur Bestimmung von Thoriumbzw. Uranisotopen beschrieben. Die radiochemische Aufbereitung erfolgt mit Hilfe einer organischen Pufferlösung. Die Erfahrungen aus den Experimenten haben gezeigt: (1) TOPO ist eines der besten Lösungsmittel für die Extraktion von Thorium; (2) Isopropylalkohol ist eine geeignete Pufferlösung für die elektrolytische Abscheidung von Uran und Azeton die beste Wahl für Thorium; (3) die Möglichkeit der Verwendung einer organischen Phase, die Thorium enthält, im letzten Schritt bei der elektrolytischen Abscheidung; (4) die Verwendung von nur 3–5 ml Isopropylalkohol bzw. Azeton für die elektrolytische Abscheidung (3–5 mm Abstand zwischen Anode und Kathode, Stromstärke von 4–15 mA); (5) die Actiniden werden quantitativ mit nahezu 100% Abscheidungswirkungsgrad bei 20 bis 40 min Elektrodepositionszeit auf einem Edelstahlplättchen abgeschieden. Für die auf diese Art und Weise hergestellten Alphaquellen liegt die Energieauflösung der gemessenen Spektren im Bereich von 37–50 KeV (FWHM).
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Articles in the same Issue
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- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
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- Analysis of fuel rod behaviour during limiting RIA in RBMK plants
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- Nuclear data for cyclotron production of 114mIn/114In and 140Nd/140Pr used in gamma camera monitoring, RIT, ERT and PET
- Effect of thermal gap conductance for MoO3 ampoules irradiated in a high neutron flux
- U1 approximation to the neutron transport equation and calculation of the asymptotic relaxation length
- Application of the TN method to critical slab problem for one-speed neutrons with forward and backward scattering and efficiency of reflection coefficient
- Technical Notes/Technische Mitteilungen
- Rapid preparation of Uranium and Thorium alpha sources by electroplating technique
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
- Analyses of loads on reactor pressure vessel internals in a pressurized water reactor due to a loss-of-coolant accident considering fluid-structure interaction
- Preliminary evaluation of a radioactive waste repository safety performance by a Monte Carlo simulation-based reliability model
- Determination of effects of burn up and reflector material on the kinetic parameters for open pool reactor using MCNP code
- Analysis of fuel rod behaviour during limiting RIA in RBMK plants
- Reflection on the ductility of irradiated zircaloy-4 fuel rod cladding
- Prediction, analysis and solution of flow inversion phenomenon in a typical MTR reactor with upward core cooling
- Steam drum process dynamics and level control of a pressure tube BWR
- Nuclear data for cyclotron production of 114mIn/114In and 140Nd/140Pr used in gamma camera monitoring, RIT, ERT and PET
- Effect of thermal gap conductance for MoO3 ampoules irradiated in a high neutron flux
- U1 approximation to the neutron transport equation and calculation of the asymptotic relaxation length
- Application of the TN method to critical slab problem for one-speed neutrons with forward and backward scattering and efficiency of reflection coefficient
- Technical Notes/Technische Mitteilungen
- Rapid preparation of Uranium and Thorium alpha sources by electroplating technique