Study of Online Analysis Method for Plutonium in Reprocessing Samples

The concentration of plutonium (Pu) is a critical parameter for process control and analysis in the PUREX process for spent fuel reprocessing. Although spectrophotometry is a well‐established technique for continuous Pu analysis, online monitoring of reprocessing samples remains a challenge. This paper introduces a novel online spectrophotometric device and methodology for the rapid determination of Pu concentration in reprocessing solutions. By capturing UV‐visible absorption spectra and implementing a specialized engineering design, the new device provides precise measurements. Experimental results show that the online spectrophotometric method can detect Pu concentrations from 1.0 to 8.0 g/L with a precision of better than 0.18% and an accuracy within 3%. The device also features integrated online cleaning and calibration capabilities, offering an innovative solution for measuring Pu concentrations in process solutions at spent fuel reprocessing facilities.