Applicability of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for the characterization of nuclear materials: Front to back end of nuclear fuel cycle

The applications of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry in nuclear industry span from the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, where the raw materials are mined and processed, to the various stages of fuel fabrication, till its back-end, which includes the waste management as well as decommissioning of a nuclear reactor. XRF is a very powerful spectroscopic technique having the capability of non-destructive, rapid, multi-elemental analysis and used for reliable qualitative as well as quantitative elemental analysis of materials. This manuscript discusses the role of Energy Dispersive XRF (EDXRF) in each stage of the nuclear fuel cycle, starting from its applications in U/Th exploration, their processing and extraction, followed by its role in the various stages of the fuel fabrication as well as the quality assurance and control of nuclear fuels. Further, in the back end of nuclear fuel cycle the utility of EDXRF for the post irradiated examination of the nuclear fuel as well as in applications for spent fuel characterization, and facility decommissioning are discussed in detail.