Determination of uranium in salt solutions containing high levels of lanthanides via epithermal neutron activation analysis

Epithermal Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis has been used to measure the concentration of uranium in eutectic salt solutions in support of a research program in which the actinide elements are separated from rare earths and other fission products using high-temperature electo-deposition. The uranium response over three decades in concentration follows a negative power function; and high concentrations of samarium interfere with the determination of uranium but can be accurately corrected. The EINAA method was successfully used to analyze NIST SRM 278 Obsidian and NIST SRM 1566a Fly Ash.