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proceedings of a Panel, Vienna
Journalof NuclearEmray,Vol. 27,pp. 891to 893. PergamonPress1973.Printedin NorthernIreland
BOOK REVIEWS
Analytical Chemistry of Nuclear Fuels/Proceedings of a Panel, Vienna. International Agency 222 pp. price E3.40
Atomic Energy
THE economics of nuclear reactors depend upon the amount of nuclear fuel consumed, the power generated, and the amount of new fuel produced. Although the relationship between power and fission rate is firmly established, the precise changes in the composition of fuels that occur in different neutron environments are very variable. The quantities involved are difficult to assess, not only because the core of a nuclear reactor is inhomogeneous, but also because the analytical and physical methods required to measure them in an absolute manner are exceedingly elaborate. This book is a valuable collection of papers on the methods used for the analysis of fuels before, and after, irradiation as reported by representatives from most countries producing nuclear power. However, the contributions from some of the major power producers are excessively abbreviated. The paper from the United Kingdom consists of a series of notes with references, and the paper from France does not even include the references. Although some of the Eastern Block countries are represented, it is unfortunate that there is no contribution from the USSR. The primary requirement is the precise elemental composition of fuel. Materials are often nonstoicheiometric, and the relationship, for instance, between the oxygen and uranium content of uranium dioxide fuels is critical for fuel loading and performance. The book includes useful papers both for oxygen deficient, and oxygen rich oxides. Uranium and plutonium, and other heavy elements, may be measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis. This is a method that lends itself to automation, and a useful paper is presented by a participant from the Federal Republic of Germany. Having obtained the elemental composition, the next step is to measure the isotopic composition. This is inevitably carried out by mass spectrometry and the limitations and advantages of the various approaches to determinations by isotope dilution analysis are presented by J. E. Rein and C. F. Metz of the Los Alamos Laboratory of the U.S.A. The book concludes with recommendations from the Pane1 convening the meeting. Here the emphasis is put upon fuel sampling techniques and quantitative dissolution of the sample, rather than on analytical accuracy and precision. Nevertheless, for plutonium in particular, control and accounting still demand increased accuracy, and there is requirement for the production and distriFor burn-up measurements, the Panel confirms the view that bution of plutonium standards. 148Nd is the best fission product isotope for monitorin,g purposes in thermal reactors. The Panel has also compiled Tables of Methods and References m appendices which redress to some extent the deficiencies elsewhere in the book. Throughout the collection of papers, little attention is given to the analysis of fast reactor fuel. Here all the problems, such as sampling, characterisation of elemental composition, and interpretation of the changes in isotopic position, are more stringent because of the more compact nature of the fuel, the higher power density and the greater inhomogenity of the neutron flux. It is possible that there will be a requirement for further compilations of this character as the fast reactor programme of different countries progresses. In the meantime, all laboratories associated with the supply and discharge of nuclear fuels to, and from, operating power reactors will find the present book a useful summary of relevant information.
G. N.
Neptunium-237 Production and Recovery. AEC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
WALLACE W. SCHULZ
THIS
WALTON
and GLEN E. BENEDICT,TID-25955,
issue in the series of AEC Critical Reviews is a small (85 pages) volume dealing with a rather restricted subject. Three parts of the booklet concern the supply and demand of Np-237, recovery of neptunium from aqueous solutions and non-aqueous methods for the recovery and separation of neptunium. Very little information is provided on the production of Np-237 and the reliability of the data on the availability of Np-237 from power reactor fuels is questionable. 891
BOOK REVIEWS
Analytical Chemistry of Nuclear Fuels/Proceedings of a Panel, Vienna. International Agency 222 pp. price E3.40
Atomic Energy
THE economics of nuclear reactors depend upon the amount of nuclear fuel consumed, the power generated, and the amount of new fuel produced. Although the relationship between power and fission rate is firmly established, the precise changes in the composition of fuels that occur in different neutron environments are very variable. The quantities involved are difficult to assess, not only because the core of a nuclear reactor is inhomogeneous, but also because the analytical and physical methods required to measure them in an absolute manner are exceedingly elaborate. This book is a valuable collection of papers on the methods used for the analysis of fuels before, and after, irradiation as reported by representatives from most countries producing nuclear power. However, the contributions from some of the major power producers are excessively abbreviated. The paper from the United Kingdom consists of a series of notes with references, and the paper from France does not even include the references. Although some of the Eastern Block countries are represented, it is unfortunate that there is no contribution from the USSR. The primary requirement is the precise elemental composition of fuel. Materials are often nonstoicheiometric, and the relationship, for instance, between the oxygen and uranium content of uranium dioxide fuels is critical for fuel loading and performance. The book includes useful papers both for oxygen deficient, and oxygen rich oxides. Uranium and plutonium, and other heavy elements, may be measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis. This is a method that lends itself to automation, and a useful paper is presented by a participant from the Federal Republic of Germany. Having obtained the elemental composition, the next step is to measure the isotopic composition. This is inevitably carried out by mass spectrometry and the limitations and advantages of the various approaches to determinations by isotope dilution analysis are presented by J. E. Rein and C. F. Metz of the Los Alamos Laboratory of the U.S.A. The book concludes with recommendations from the Pane1 convening the meeting. Here the emphasis is put upon fuel sampling techniques and quantitative dissolution of the sample, rather than on analytical accuracy and precision. Nevertheless, for plutonium in particular, control and accounting still demand increased accuracy, and there is requirement for the production and distriFor burn-up measurements, the Panel confirms the view that bution of plutonium standards. 148Nd is the best fission product isotope for monitorin,g purposes in thermal reactors. The Panel has also compiled Tables of Methods and References m appendices which redress to some extent the deficiencies elsewhere in the book. Throughout the collection of papers, little attention is given to the analysis of fast reactor fuel. Here all the problems, such as sampling, characterisation of elemental composition, and interpretation of the changes in isotopic position, are more stringent because of the more compact nature of the fuel, the higher power density and the greater inhomogenity of the neutron flux. It is possible that there will be a requirement for further compilations of this character as the fast reactor programme of different countries progresses. In the meantime, all laboratories associated with the supply and discharge of nuclear fuels to, and from, operating power reactors will find the present book a useful summary of relevant information.
G. N.
Neptunium-237 Production and Recovery. AEC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
WALLACE W. SCHULZ
THIS
WALTON
and GLEN E. BENEDICT,TID-25955,
issue in the series of AEC Critical Reviews is a small (85 pages) volume dealing with a rather restricted subject. Three parts of the booklet concern the supply and demand of Np-237, recovery of neptunium from aqueous solutions and non-aqueous methods for the recovery and separation of neptunium. Very little information is provided on the production of Np-237 and the reliability of the data on the availability of Np-237 from power reactor fuels is questionable. 891