Determination of 235U/238U atom ratio in uranium samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC).

A correlation has been developed for the determination of (235)U/(238)U atom ratio in uranium samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The (235)U/(238)U atom ratio determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was correlated to the ratio of (i) alpha-count rate and (ii) Cerenkov count rate due to (234 m)Pa in the sample; both measured by LSC. This correlation is linear over the range of (235)U/(238)U atom ratio encountered in the nuclear fuel samples, i.e. the low enriched uranium (LEU) samples with (235)U<20 atom%. The methodology based on this correlation will be useful for the quick determination and verification of (235)U/(238)U atom ratios in fuel samples using cost effective technique of LSC.