IDENTIFICATION OF IODOORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN KEROSENE FROM NUCLEAR-FUELREPROCESSING

In kerosene samples from nuclear fuel reprocessing, iodoalkanes with c hain-lengths from C-4 to C-13 have been identified. The kerosene sampl es were purified by means of solid-phase extraction. By this method ot her fission products like Sb-125 and Ru-106 were quantitatively remove d from the solution. The only remaining radioactive nuclide was thus I -129. The iodoorganic compounds in the kerosene from the solvent were enriched from 6000 Bq/L to 100 000 Bq/L I-129 by vacuum distillation. Chromatographic separation by HPLC, fractionation, and beta-measuremen t of the fractions showed that at least one polar and one nonpolar iod oorganic compound were present. Derivatisation of the iodoorganic comp ounds with 1,4-diazabicyclo-2,2,2-octane to quaternary ammonium salts and Cf-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry of the products reveale d that the main iodoorganic constituents in the kerosene were iodobuta ne as polar and iodododecane as nonpolar compound in approximately equ al concentrations.