Development of total uranium analytical method by L x-ray fluorescence

摘要

This paper describes development of an L x-ray fluorescence technique to perform total uranium analysis using an internal excitation source which is added directly to the sample. The method has been demonstrated with synthetic U samples in the limited concentration range of 1g/l to 15g/l, and provides the advantages of simplicity, involving no mechanical parts which would normally be found in an external excitation source. Total uranium is determined by counting L x-rays fluoresced by a microCurie level spike of Cd-109 added directly to the sample and without shielding the excitation source from the detector. A method for correction of sample self-absorption is included in the analysis.