An improved method for determination of uranium isotopic composition in urine by alpha spectrometry

A comparative study of source preparation techniques to determine uranium isotopic composition by alpha spectrometry, namely electrodeposition and chemical stripping with polymeric membrane containing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), is presented. The mean yield obtained for electrodeposition and TOPO deposition were 85% and 74%, respectively. The mean activity ratio 235U/238U were 0.044 and 0.042 and the ratio 234U/238U were 0.994 and 1.009, using electrodeposition and TOPO deposition techniques, respectively. The method of uranium separation from urine using an ion-exchange resin Dowex 1x8, chloride form citrate form, was also studied. The obtained global yields of these methods were 50% and 41%, respectively. (author) 15 refs.; 2 figs.; 2 tabs