Distinction between natural and depleted uranium using instrumental neutron activation analysis

A convenient method to discriminate between natural and depleted uranium samples was developed in this work. Traces of natural and depleted uranium were irradiated separately and the ratios of 95Zr/103Ru, 239Np/95Zr, 239Np/103Ru were measured. The results show that these ratios can be used as indicators of the uranium isotopic composition of the sample. These ratios are independent of the secular equilibrium of the 238U with its daughters in the sample and indicate the isotopic composition for trace amounts. Date and truffle samples has been analysed also using this method. Results show that the uranium content in this product was less than the detection limit.(author)