Quantitative and isotopic analysis of released and retained krypton and xenon fission gases from irradiated metallic fuels

We quantitatively measured the amounts and isotopic distributions of the released and retained fission gases (Kr and Xe) from two irradiated metallic fuels (U–10Zr and U–10Zr–5Ce) at approximately 2.9 at.% burnup, using a gas chromatography and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The obtained Xe/Kr ratios indicate that the released and retained fission gases from the irradiated metallic fuels came primarily from the fission of 235 U, instead of that of heavy isotopes such as 239 Pu and 241 Pu. The calculated ( 83 Kr + 84 Kr)/ 86 Kr and ( 131 Xe + 132 Xe)/ 134 Xe ratios suggest that no fuel rods became defective during the irradiation process.