Determination of uranium isotopes in irradiated thorium dioxide by alpha spectrometry using WinALPHA for deconvolution of complex spectra

Isotopic composition of uranium obtained from irradiated thorium dioxide was determined using alpha spectrometry by employing WinALPHA for the deconvolution of the alpha spectra recorded using electrodeposited sources. The results obtained were found to agree within 1% with those determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The deconvolution methodology is important since it is possible to account for the in-growth of ²²⁸Th, which interferes in the determination of ²³²U by alpha spectrometry. The present methodology has the potential to determine isotopic composition of uranium in the irradiated thorium based nuclear fuels, employing alpha spectrometry.