Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Speciation and Bioavailability Measurements of Environmental Plutonium Using Diffusion in Thin Films
Published on: November 9, 2015
Determination of the Pu240/Pu239 ratio by alpha spectrometry using the WinALPHA program
S Srinivasan1, H Seshadri, T Kumar
1Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Facilities, Kalpakkam 603 102, India. ssv@igcar.ernet.in
Abstract:
The isotopic ratio of 240Pu to 239Pu is an important parameter in identifying the origin of plutonium in a given radioactive sample. High-resolution mass spectrometry is generally accepted as an accurate technique for determining this ratio, but this is a very costly method. Alternatives to this method are alpha- and gamma-spectrometry studies but the problem with these low-cost method lies with the analysis of the spectrum. Recently, Noy et al. [2004. Nucl. Instrum. Methods in Phys. Res. A 525, 522-528] developed a computer program code called WinALPHA to quantitatively analyze the alpha spectrum; the program is available from the IAEA website. In this paper, we report the results obtained from the analysis of the alpha spectrum of plutonium from power bearing product samples from power reactor fuel reprocessing plant using the WinALPHA program. The results are found to be in good agreement (within 1-2%) with results from mass spectrometry.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectrometers
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
The atomizer used in AAS can be either a flame atomizer or an...
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Atomization Methods
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Lab
Solutions containing organic solvents, such as low-molecular-mass alcohols, esters, or ketones, enhance absorbances by increasing nebulizer...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab

