Determination of burnup in spent nuclear fuel by application of fiber optic high-resolution inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (FO-HR-ICP-AES)

The determination of burnup, an indicator of fuel cycle efficiency, has been accomplished by the determination of ¹³⁹La by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (HR-ICP-AES). Solutions of digested samples of reactor fuel rods were introduced into a shielded glovebox housing an inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) and the resulting atomic emission transmitted to a high-resolution spectrometer by a 31 m fiber optic bundle. Total and isotopic U determination by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) is presented to allow for the calculation of burnup for the samples. This method of burnup determination reduces the time, material, sample handling and waste generation associated with typical burnup determinations which require separation of lanthanum from the other fission products with high specific activities.