Determination of trace impurities in sodium coolant from a fast breeder reactor by inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry

Trace impurities in samples of the liquid sodium coolant from the Dounreay Fast Reactor are determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic-emission spectrometry of vacuum distillation residues. A 72-channel vacuum spectrometer with a 1-kW argon plasma source, fed by a coaxial capillary nebuliser, simultaneously measures 59 elements with a precision varying from <1% at concentrations 20 times the detection limit to 30% at detection levels. The ICP torch box is enclosed in a fume-cupboard fitted with a filtered extract system to allow safe handling of the radioactive solutions. Comparisons of some results have been made with spark-source mass spectrometry, d.c. arc emission spectrography, neutron-activation analysis and atomic-absorption spectrometry. (author)