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Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry for product monitoring of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing.

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Title: Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry for product monitoring of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing.
Authors: Zherebtsov, A. A.1 (AUTHOR), Mochalov, Yu. S.1 (AUTHOR), Tarazanova, M. A.1 (AUTHOR) TarazanovaMA@pnproryv.ru, Rybakov, A. N.1 (AUTHOR), Dvoeglazov, K. N.1 (AUTHOR), Shirshin, E. A.2 (AUTHOR), Budylin, G. S.2 (AUTHOR), Petrov, V. A.2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Atomic Energy. Jul2025, Vol. 138 Issue 3, p145-153. 9p.
Subjects: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Reactor fuel reprocessing, Rare earth metals, Radiation exposure, Remote sensing devices, Elemental analysis, Chemical processes
Abstract: Background: Process monitoring for the composition of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is closely related to the risks of radiation exposure to personnel and formation of secondary radioactive waste. In addition, it requires labor-intensive sample preparation, as well as costly, long-term, and numerous measurements, making the transition to remote measurement methods, such as laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS), extremely important. Aim: To determine the possibility of introducing the LIBS method into the system for chemical composition monitoring of hydrometallurgical reprocessing of SNF from the BREST-OD-300 reactor plant for an alternative replacement of existing physical and chemical methods including atomic emission spectrometry, spectrophotometry, and X-ray fluorescence analysis for measuring the content of U, Pu, and rare earth elements (REE). Materials and methods: A review of literature sources was conducted. A model of the experimental laboratory LIBS unit was developed; test measurements of the element composition were made using the spectral characteristics of solid and liquid samples simulating oxidized SNF. Results: The performed literature review showed the potential of using LIBS. The developed LIBS unit was effectively used to determine actinide atomic emission lines using U as an example and identify the presence of nuclear fuel fission products. The measurement error for the concentration of La, Nd, Ce, Fe was 10, 12, 4.5, and 13.5%, respectively, in solid samples of REE oxides with a concentration from 103 to 105 ppm. For Zr, the error is 3.3% in the samples of nitric acid solutions with a concentration of 0.9–15 g/dm3. Economic efficiency of using the LIBS method involves the reduction in the daily number of measurements and equipment costs by ~29 and 40%, respectively, at the duration of measurements decreased to 24 h. Conclusion: The experimental results confirm the operability of the developed LIBS unit and possibility of determining uranium, plutonium, and REE, as well as measuring their content. Due to reduced risks of personnel exposure, the LIBS method can be used to replace a number of quantitative chemical analysis methods for conducting remote online radiation monitoring and decelerating the formation of secondary radioactive waste. In the future, the work on reducing detection limits and measurement errors is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:Background: Process monitoring for the composition of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is closely related to the risks of radiation exposure to personnel and formation of secondary radioactive waste. In addition, it requires labor-intensive sample preparation, as well as costly, long-term, and numerous measurements, making the transition to remote measurement methods, such as laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS), extremely important. Aim: To determine the possibility of introducing the LIBS method into the system for chemical composition monitoring of hydrometallurgical reprocessing of SNF from the BREST-OD-300 reactor plant for an alternative replacement of existing physical and chemical methods including atomic emission spectrometry, spectrophotometry, and X-ray fluorescence analysis for measuring the content of U, Pu, and rare earth elements (REE). Materials and methods: A review of literature sources was conducted. A model of the experimental laboratory LIBS unit was developed; test measurements of the element composition were made using the spectral characteristics of solid and liquid samples simulating oxidized SNF. Results: The performed literature review showed the potential of using LIBS. The developed LIBS unit was effectively used to determine actinide atomic emission lines using U as an example and identify the presence of nuclear fuel fission products. The measurement error for the concentration of La, Nd, Ce, Fe was 10, 12, 4.5, and 13.5%, respectively, in solid samples of REE oxides with a concentration from 103 to 105 ppm. For Zr, the error is 3.3% in the samples of nitric acid solutions with a concentration of 0.9–15 g/dm3. Economic efficiency of using the LIBS method involves the reduction in the daily number of measurements and equipment costs by ~29 and 40%, respectively, at the duration of measurements decreased to 24 h. Conclusion: The experimental results confirm the operability of the developed LIBS unit and possibility of determining uranium, plutonium, and REE, as well as measuring their content. Due to reduced risks of personnel exposure, the LIBS method can be used to replace a number of quantitative chemical analysis methods for conducting remote online radiation monitoring and decelerating the formation of secondary radioactive waste. In the future, the work on reducing detection limits and measurement errors is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:10634258
DOI:10.1007/s10512-025-01239-3