Pemisahan Neodimium dari Pelat Elemen Bakar U3Si2/Al Pasca Iradiasi untuk Penentuan Burn-Up

Abstract

Neodymium is a common fission product produced in nuclear fission reactions. Neodymium in this study was chosen as a burn-up indicator for U3Si2/Al fuel element plates because the neodymium isotope is a stable fission product with a fairly high yield. Some procedures were carried out to separate neodymium, starting with the separation of cesium isotopes (137Cs, 134Cs) through the precipitation method, then separation of uranium isotopes (235U, 238U) and plutonium isotopes (239Pu, 238Pu) with Dowex 1x8 ion exchange resin, and separation of neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), as well as cerium (Ce) with Dowex 1x4 ion exchange resin. The Cs recovery reached 99.95%. The U and Pu isotopes resulting from the separation are subjected to an electrodeposition process and the weight of each isotope can be measured with an alpha spectrometer. The separation results of Nd from Sm and Ce have been proven using an XRF spectrometer. The neodymium isotopes separation was corrected using the standard addition method, and an average total Nd content of 2.4 ppm was obtained in the PEB U3Si2/Al bottom solution. It is hoped that this separation method can be applied in determining burn-up of nuclear fuel.