Performance evaluation of micro-volume anion-exchange filter prepared by graft polymerization on Zr separation and its application to determination of Zr-93 in spent fuel

Asai, Shiho; Hanzawa, Yukiko  ; Konda, Miki; Suzuki, Daisuke   ; Magara, Masaaki  ; Kimura, Takaumi ; Ishihara, Ryo*; Saito, Kyoichi*; Yamada, Shinsuke*; Hirota, Hideyuki*

Zr is a long-lived fission product which can be found in spent nuclear fuel and HLW. The estimation of theZr content is indispensable to achieve a safety disposal of HLW because Zr is predicted to be one of the major contributors to radiation dose. However, only a few measured Zr values have been reported, leading to a high demand for development of an efficient analytical method. Our group has been prepared a new porous filter cartridge which has densely bound ion-exchanger onto the pore surface of the filter, enabling a high-capacity and rapid adsorption. In order to apply this filter cartridge to a pretreatment for the Zr measurement with ICP-MS, an elution profiles of Zr and the other coexisting elements were examined. According to the resultant separation conditions, Zr in a spent nuclear fuel sample was successfully separated. The measured Zr content is 98.2 5.1 ng, which agrees with the theoretical value.