Development of a methodology for impurity evaluation in U3O8 by ICP-OES

In this work, the study and development of separation method and evaluation of the impurity contained in U3O8 of the section of production of the nuclear fuel element for the reactor IEA-R1 of IPEN-CNEN/SP is reported. U3O8 used in the production of the nuclear fuel element can contain some metals and rare earths as impurity. The chemical process developed at the laboratories of IPEN consists of separation of the impurities of U3O8 for the technique of extraction chromatography and subsequent analysis by ICP-OES. The column was filled with the XAD-16 resin of Amberlite impregnated with TBP for extraction of the uranium and, after the separation, appraised the presence of rare earths by ICP-OES. The recovery was evaluated by standard addition and good results were obtained. (author)