Development and validation of hybrid K-edge/K-XRF densitometer for assay of nuclear fuel from reprocessing plants

A non-destructive and noninvasive technique is preferable for characterization of the spent fuel solutions in the reprocessing plants, especially samples associated with high radiation dose. A hybrid K-edge/KXRF densitometer (HKED) technique has been designed, fabricated, and commissioned indigenously to accomplish the above objective for the spent fuel solutions from compact reprocessing facility for advanced fuels in lead cells (CORAL), Kalpakkam. This paper describes the customized design, development, calibration and validation of the HKED technique using a series of uranium solutions and corroborating the results with potentiometric method. Further, the pure and mixture of thorium and uranium as well as uranium and plutonium solutions were also assayed by HKED technique.