Two Methods of Determining ppm Quantities of Plutonium-236 in Plutonium-238

Two methods were developed for the determination of ²³⁶Pu in ²³⁸Pu. One method involves the direct measurement of ²³⁶Pu in the presence of ²³⁸PuO₂. The second method consists of an indirect radiochemical determination of the ratio of daughter products from ²³⁶Pu and ²³⁸Pu (i.e., ²³²U and ²³⁴U). Both methods produce similar results, although each has its own distinct advantages.