Burnup determination of high burnup and dry processed fuels based on isotope dilution mass spectrometric measurements

Destructive methods were used for the burnup determination of a PWR nuclear fuel irradiated to a high burnup in power reactors, and of a dry processed fuel fabricated from a spent PWR fuel and irradiated in the Hanaro research reactor. The total burnup was determined from a measurement of the Nd and Cs isotope burnup monitors. The methods included U, Pu, Nd-148, Nd-145+Nd-146, total of the Nd isotopes, Cs-133 and Cs-137 determinations by the isotope dilution mass spectrometric method (IDMS) by using quadrupole spikes (U-233, (PU)-P-242, Nd-150, and Cs-133). The methods involved two sequential anion exchange resin (AG 1X8 and 1X4) separation procedures and a Cs purification with a cation exchange resin (AG 50WX4) separation procedure. The results obtained by the Nd and Cs isotopes from the mass spectrometric measurement were compared with those by the ORIGEN code.