Post-Irradiation Chemical Analysis of Snap-8 Experimental Reactor Coolant

An experimental program involving radiochemical and spectrochemical analysis of short-cooled samples of SNAP-8 Experimental Reactor (S8ER) primary coolant is described. Evidence for the presence of corrosion products, fission products, and coolant activation products was sought. Gamma-ray spectrometric and dc-arc emission spectrographic techniques and the methods for determining a sensitivity for detection are described. Experimental data revealed essentially no detectable corrosion-product activities in the NaK. Fission product ¹³⁷Cs was clearly observed. Fission products other than ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³¹I, ¹³²Te, ¹³²I, and ¹²⁵Sb were not observed using spectrum stripping techniques. Sources of other observed radio-nuclides are proposed. Corrosion-product and fission-product activities were observed on primary cold trap and piping surfaces.