A Comparison of Radiochemical Methods for Cesium-137 Determination

• Published in: Journal of nuclear science and technology Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 241 - 248
• Main Authors: OKASHITA, Hiroshi, NATSUME, Haruo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.1972; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• ISSN: 0022-3131; 1881-1248
• DOI: 10.1080/18811248.1972.9734836

The results are presented of a comparative study seeking an accurate and precise radiochemical method for 137 Cs determination in burnup measurements. The methods taken up are chloroplatinate-precipitation (Method I), tetraphenylborate-precipitation (Method II), tetraphenylborate-extraction (Method III), potassium hexacyanocobalt(II) ferrate(II)-substitution (Method IV) and ion-exchange (Method V). A common sample, an aqueous solution obtained from dissolving irradiated uranium fuel and containing approximately 5μCi of 137 Cs, was analyzed by seven analysts using the five methods. A statistical analysis of the results obtained (105 values in all) show that the expected precision, at the 0.05 probability level, of a single determination in non-rehearsed trials of each method are: Method I, ±3.0%; Method II, ±5.6%; Method III, ±5.3% Method IV, ±10.9%; Method V, ±4.2%. The accuracy follows the same pattern except Method III and Method IV. The advantages and disadvantages of the five methods are discussed from the standpoint of utilization in burnup measurements.