RADIONUCLIDE DETECTION BY ION-CHROMATOGRAPHY AND ONLINE ICP MS AND BETA-DETECTION - FISSION-PRODUCT RARE-EARTH ELEMENT MEASUREMENTS/

Separation and analysis of U-235 fission produced rare earth elements (REE) is described. Rare earth elements were separated using a high pr esure ion chromatographic separation where by each rare earth is isola ted and individually detected. Detection is performed by inductively c oupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) and solid scintillation beta counting. The resulting detection methods allow complete evaluation of all stable (non-radioactive) and many radioactive REE fission product s. The two detection methods (ICP/MS and Beta) illustrate how mass sel ective and radiometric data can be used to provide complimentary infor mation regarding the isotopic characterization of radioactive samples.