Plans for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis of impurities in plutonium materials at Rocky Flats

Due to the complex emission spectra of plutonium, ICP analysis of impurities in plutonium materials requires an effective and efficient separation of the impurities of interest from the plutonium matrix. The use of dihexyl N-N diethylcarbamoylmethylenephosphonate (DHDECMP) in the extraction and separation of plutonium and americium from impurities of interest has been evaluated and shown to meet these requirements. Topics discussed in this paper are: (1) a proposed method for the determination of impurities in plutonium metal; (2) recovery of plutonium from DHDECMP and recycle use of DHDECMP; (3) instrument and equipment plans. 5 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs