Fluoride determination in various matrices relevant to nuclear industry: A review

Abstract

The determination of fluoride from diverse matrices at front and back end of nuclear technology and some studies from this laboratory on optimizations of different experimental parameters differing with multiple fuels and reactor materials, have been reviewed. The most useful techniques such as fluoride ion selective electrode (F-ISE) and ion-chromatography (IC) widely adopted as routine methods for fluoride determination in nuclear industry have been discussed. The effect of various buffer strengths on the response of the fluoride ion selective electrode has been examined. The ion chromatographic studies on mobile phase concentration, medium of sample, sample injection volume etc. to get distinct fluoride peak within optimum time in presence of other anionic species in diverse concentrations have been reported. The results of various sample matrices such as UO2, PuO2, (U,Pu)O2, Pu-alloy, thoria, zircaloy, slag, HLLW, LLLW etc., analyzed after matrix separation using pyrohydrolysis setup, for both solid and liquid samples and without matrix separation by masking potentially interfering ions of liquid samples, have been presented.