Quantification of Zr in simulated dissolver solution of U–Zr fuel by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Estimation of Zr in fresh and irradiated metal alloy fuel is important. The homogeneous dissolver solution represents the fuel composition better compared to a highly heterogeneous solid pellet. The present study employs LIBS to determine Zr in the simulated dissolver solution. Four different compositions of U–Zr samples where the Zr/U ratio varies from 0.04 to 0.18 % are analyzed by LIBS with an in-house designed liquid sample cell. A good correlation coefficient is achieved for the measurements in the calibration plot. The results for identifying non-overlapping peaks, calibration plot, precision, deviation, and detection limit are discussed in detail. Two set of solid samples, an oxide pellet and metal alloy with similar Zr/U composition, are also analyzed by LIBS. The results obtained from these three set of samples are inter-compared, and the reason for getting a better Zr/U intensity ratio for a dried coating of sample on aluminium for a given composition is explained.