Analysis of uranium using delayed neutron emission

Analyses of uranium and thorium. by delayed neutron counting are described. The experimental system comprises an automatic pneumatic transfer system a ssociated with a device made of twelve BF3 neutron counters. Using homogene ous prepared solutions of the samples, the analyses were based on a triple cycle each including 60-second irradiation followed by 1-second cooling and 60-second counting. In these conditions, the limit of detection of uranium is about 0.3 mug with a precision of measurement better than 10%. The cont ributions of possible perturbations from O-17(n,p)N-17 reactions. followed by simultaneous beta- disintegration and neutron emission and from (gamma , n) reactions. have been studied.