ISOTOPE CORRELATION VERIFICATION OF ANALYTICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR DISSOLVER MATERIALS*

An independent verification of analytical results for accountability measurements of dissolver materials can be performed using the Isotope Correlation Technique (ICT). ICT is based on the relationships that exist between the initial and final elemental concentrations and isotopic abundances of the nuclear fuel. Linear correlation functions between isotopic ratios and plutonium/uranium ratios have been developed for specific reactor fuels. The application of these correlations to already existing analytical data provides a laboratory additional confidence in the reported results. Confirmation is done by a test of consistancy with historical data. ICT is being utilized with dissolver accountability measurements at the Savannah River Plant Laboratory. The application, implementation, and operating experience of this technique are presented.