ASTM C697-98

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the chemical, mass spectrometric, and spectrochemical analysis of nuclear-grade plutonium dioxide powders and pellets to determine compliance with specifications.

1.2 The analytical procedures appear in the following order:

Sections Plutonium Sample Handling 8 to 10 Plutonium by Controlled-Potential Coulometry 2 Plutonium by Ceric Sulfate Titration 20 to 27 Plutonium by Amperometric Titration with Iron(II) 2 Nitrogen by Distillation Spectrophotometry Using Nessler 37 to 44 Reagent Carbon (Total) by Direct Combustion-Thermal Conductivity 45 to 56 Total Chlorine and Fluorine by Pyrohydrolysis 57 to 64 Sulfur by Distillation Spectrophotometry 65 to 73 Plutonium Isotopic Analysis by Mass Spectrometry 3 Rare Earth Elements by Spectroscopy 82 to 89 Trace Elements by Carrier-Distillation Spectroscopy 90 to 97 Impurity Elements by Spark-Source Mass Spectrography 98 to 104 Moisture by the Coulometric Electrolytic Moisture Analyzer 105 to 112 Total Gas in Reactor-Grade Plutonium Dioxide Pellets 113 to 120 Plutonium-238 Isotopic Abundance by Alpha Spectrometry 121 to 128 Rare Earths By Copper Spark-Spectroscopy 129 to 138 Plutonium Isotopic Analysis by Mass Spectrometry 139 to 147 Oxygen-To-Metal Atom Ratio by Gravimetry 148 to 156

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Sections 6, 41, 50, 153, and 86.9 and144.5.1.