Abstract: Methods for monitoring target actinides in a fuel reprocessing or waste remediation facility. The methods can be characterized by providing a fuel reprocessing or waste remediation stream having at least one target actinide and at least one other radionuclide. At least a portion of the stream is flowed through an electrochemically modulated separations (EMS) device comprising a carbon-based electrode. A potential is applied to the carbon-based electrode to adjust the redox states of the target actinide, at least one of the radionuclides, or both. The target actinide is separated from the other radionuclides through reaction with, or at, the carbon-based electrode. Finally, direct, in-line chemical nondestructive analysis, at-line chemical separations and sampling analysis, or both, of the target actinide is performed.

Abstract: A high voltage accelerating potential, which is supplied by a high voltage direct current power supply, is applied to the electrically conducting interior wall of an RF powered glow discharge cell. The RF power supply desirably is electrically grounded, and the conductor carrying the RF power to the sample held by the probe is desirably shielded completely excepting only the conductor's terminal point of contact with the sample. The high voltage DC accelerating potential is not supplied to the sample. A high voltage capacitance is electrically connected in series between the sample on the one hand and the RF power supply and an impedance matching network on the other hand. The high voltage capacitance isolates the high DC voltage from the RF electronics, while the RF potential is passed across the high voltage capacitance to the plasma. An inductor protects at least the RF power supply, and desirably the impedance matching network as well, from a short that might occur across the high voltage capacitance.