Analytical technique
Radionuclides are determined by adding a combined carrier and a tracer to a sample to be analysed. The sample is mineralized by pyrolysizing and/or pyrohydrolysizing the sample. The resulting analyte is isolated and the analyte is analyzed.
1 - 35 . (Canceled)
36 . A method for the determination of specified radionuclides, comprising the steps of:
adding a combined carrier and a tracer to a sample to be analysed;
mineralizing the sample comprising pyrolysizing and/or pyrohydrolysizing the sample;
isolating a resulting analyte; and
analyzing the analyte.
37 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein mineralizing the sample comprises pyrohydrolysizing the sample.
38 . A method according to claim 37 , wherein pyrohydrolysizing the sample comprises converting all chemical and physical forms of the analyte into soluble, inorganic forms.
39 . A method according to claim 37 , wherein analyzing the analyte is based upon pyrohydrolysis of both C-14 and I-129 in a single sample aliquot.
40 . A method according to claim 37 , wherein mineralizing the sample comprises remotely pyrohydrolysizing the sample in a shielded facility.
41 . A method according to claim 40 , further comprising processing the sample in the shielded facility to allow export to the radio-bench.
42 . A method according to claim 40 , further comprising purifying the sample and preparing a source at the radio-bench.
43 . A method according to claim 42 , further comprising diluting the sample in a shielded facility to determine I-129 and/or C-14.
44 . A method according to claim 43 , wherein diluting the sample comprises calibrating using isotope dilution methodologies.
45 . A method according to claim 43 , wherein pyrohydrolysizing the sample, purifying the sample, preparing the source are performed in a low-level protection environment.
46 . A method according to claim 36 , further comprising:
absorbing and/or adsorbing evolved gases onto and/or into a substrate after mineralizing the sample.
47 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein isolating the resulting analyte comprises purifying the analyte.
48 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein analyzing the analyte comprises determining analytes of interest by classical radiometric techniques and/or by inorganic mass spectrometry
49 . A method according to claim 48 , wherein analyzing the analyte comprises determining analytes of interest by inorganic mass spectrometry.
50 . A method according to claim 49 , wherein the inorganic mass spectrometry is inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
51 . A method according to claim 50 , wherein the analyte is I-129 or Tc-99.
52 . A method according to claim 49 , wherein the inorganic mass spectrometry is accelerator mass spectrometry.
53 . A method according to claim 52 , wherein the analyte is I-129, C-14, Tc-99 or Cl-36.
54 . A method according to claim 48 , wherein analyzing the analyte comprises determining analytes of interest by classical radiometric techniques.
55 . A method according to claim 54 , wherein the analyte is I-129, C-14, Tc-99, S-35, Ru-106 or Cl-36.
56 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the analyte comprises at least one of C-14, I-129, Cl-36, Tc-99, S-35 and Ru-106.
57 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the sample comprises process streams or materials, process wastes, and/or waste forms of interest in the nuclear fuel cycle.
58 . A method according to claim 57 , wherein the sample may be in a range from highly radioactive to non-radioactive.
59 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the sample is of environmental concern and interest.
60 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein mineralizing the sample comprises:
pyrohydrolysizing the sample in a first zone in a furnace; and
oxidizing the sample in a second zone in the furnace.
61 . A method according to claim 60 , wherein the first zone is maintained at a substantially constant temperature and the second zone is temperature programmed.
62 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the sample comprises iodine, and mineralization of the sample comprises using a catalyst to aid conversion of iodine to hydrogen iodide.
63 . A method according to claim 62 , wherein the catalyst is a metal oxide.
64 . A method according to claim 63 , wherein the catalyst is vanadium pentoxide.
65 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein mineralization of the sample comprises using an oxidation catalyst to aid conversion of any carbon monoxide and/or volatile organic compounds to carbon dioxide.
66 . A method according to claim 65 , wherein the oxidation catalyst is platinum or alumina.
67 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the carrier is a quaternary alkyl ammonium iodide.
68 . A method according to claim 67 , wherein the carrier is tetra-butyl ammonium iodide.