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The Use of Surface Analytical Techniques to Measure the Loadings of Uranium and Plutonium Sorbed Simultaneously from Solution onto Rocks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

J A Berry
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
H E Bishop
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
M M Cowper
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
P R Fozard
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
J W McMillan
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 220 Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
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Abstract

Small polished blocks of granite, diorite and dolerite were immersed in solutions containing uranium and plutonium at equal initial concentration. The samples were analysed by the advanced surface analytical techniques of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and nuclear microprobe analysis. The results show that both actinides sorb onto the same minerals in the three rocks. However, SIMS data show that significantly more uranium was sorbed than plutonium.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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