1. Scope

1.1 This test method describes the nondestructive assay of scrap or waste for plutonium content using passive thermal-neutron coincidence counting. This test method provides rapid results and can be applied to a variety of carefully sorted materials in containers as large as 208-L drums. The test method applies to measurements of ²³⁸ Pu, ²⁴⁰ Pu, and ²⁴² Pu and has been used to assay items whose total plutonium content ranges from 0.01 to 6000 g (1) .

1.2 This test method requires knowledge of the relative abundances of the plutonium isotopes to determine the total plutonium mass.

1.3 This test method may not be applicable to the assay of scrap or waste containing other spontaneously fissioning nuclides.

1.3.1 This test method may give biased results for measurements of containers that include large amounts of hydrogenous materials.

1.3.2 The techniques described in this test method have been applied to materials other than scrap and waste (2, 3) .

1.4 This test method assumes the use of shift-register-based coincidence technology (4) .

1.5 Several other techniques that are related to passive neutron coincidence counting exist These include neutron multiplicity counting (5,6) , add-a-source analysis (7) , and cosmic-ray rejection (8) . Discussions of these techniques are not included in this method.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

C986 Guide for Developing Training Programs in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

C1009 Guide for Establishing a Quality Assurance Program for Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Within the Nuclear Industry

C1030 Test Method for Determination of Plutonium Isotopic Composition by Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

C1068 Guide for Qualification of Measurement Methods by a Laboratory Within the Nuclear Industry

C1128 Guide for Preparation of Working Reference Materials for Use in Analysis of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Materials

C1133 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Special Nuclear Material in Low-Density Scrap and Waste by Segmented Passive Gamma-Ray Scanning

C1210 Guide for Establishing a Measurement System Quality Control Program for Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Within the Nuclear Industry

C1316 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Material in Scrap and Waste by Passive-Active Neutron Counting Using 252Cf Shuffler

C1458 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutonium, Tritium and 241Am by Calorimetric Assay

C1490 Guide for the Selection, Training and Qualification of Nondestructive Assay (NDA) Personnel

C1493 Test Method for Non-Destructive Assay of Nuclear Material in Waste by Passive and Active Neutron Counting Using a Differential Die-Away System

C1500 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutonium by Passive Neutron Multiplicity Counting

C1592 Guide for Nondestructive Assay Measurements

C1673 Terminology of C26.10 Nondestructive Assay Methods

ANSI Standards

Keywords

nondestructive assay; passive neutron coincidence counting; plutonium; scrap and waste; Coincidence counting; Electrical measurements; Neutron counting; Nondestructive evaluation (NDE)--nuclear applications; Nuclear scrap and waste materials; Plutonium--nuclear scrap and waste materials; Thermal-neutron coincidence counting;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.030.30 (Special wastes)

DOI: 10.1520/C1207-03

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