Journal of Radiation Protection and Research

The Korean Association for Radiation Protection (대한방사선방어학회)
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A Comparative Study on Radiochemical Pre-treatment Methods for Airborne Uranium-Isotropic Analysis

공기 중 우라늄 동위원소 분석을 위한 방사화학 전처리방법에 대한 비교 분석 연구

  • Kang, Han-Byeol (Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control) ;
  • Chung, Heejun (Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control) ;
  • Park, Seunghoon (Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control) ;
  • Shin, Jung-Ki (Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control) ;
  • Kwak, Sung-Woo (Korea Institute of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Control)
  • Received : 2015.02.16
  • Accepted : 2015.06.11
  • Published : 2015.06.30
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Abstract

Alpha spectrometry is typically used for the assessment of uranium particle concentrations and its accuracy can be directly related to the accuracy in which the radiochemical pre-treatment is conducted. Ashing and alkali fusion methods are typically used but the ashing method requires longer analysis time and the alkali fusion method is extremely costly. Therefore, a new pre-treatment method using ultrasonic cleaning was developed and its experimental result was compared against the two conventional methods in terms of pre-treatment time, convenience, cost, and recovery rate of a target material. The results that were obtained by the conventional methods(ashing and alkali fusion) and the new method were compared. Consequently, even though the shorter pre-treatment time was required, the new technique showed almost same recovery rate comparing with two conventional methods. The new method was also featured by its relatively lower cost and a simpler process than two conventional methods.

대기 중에 존재하는 우라늄 동위원소 분석을 위해서 일반적으로 알파분광분석법(alpha spectrometry)이 사용되고 있으며, 정확한 분석을 위해서는 정밀한 방사화학 전처리가 요구된다. 보편적인 방사화학 전처리 방법으로는 회화법(ashing method) 및 알칼리 용융법(alkali fusion method)가 있다. 그러나 회화법의 경우 전처리 시간이 길어 빠른 분석이 어렵다는 단점이 있으며, 이와 달리 알칼리 용융법은 단시간 내에 전처리가 가능하다는 장점은 있으나 보편적으로 전처리 장비의 무게가 무겁고 분석 소요 비용 역시 상당히 높다는 단점이 있다. 이러한 단점들은 신속한 분석 결과가 요구되는 방사능 사고 분석 또는 IAEA 안전조치 물자재고 검사(Physical Inventory Verification, PIV) 수행시, 효율성을 저하시키는 원인이 된다. 이에 본 연구에서는 간편하면서도 주어진 짧은 시간 내에 공기 중 우라늄 동위원소 분석을 완료하는 것을 목적으로, 초음파 세척법(ultrasonic cleaning method)을 이용한 새로운 방사화학 전처리 방법을 개발하였다. 또한 초음파 세척법의 효율성 분석을 위해 전처리 소요시간, 편의성, 소요비용, 우라늄 동위원소 회수율의 측면에서 기존의 방법들과 비교 분석하였다. 동일 조건의 공기 포집시료에 대해 비교실험을 수행한 결과, 본 연구에서 개발한 초음파 세척법을 활용한 공정은 상대적으로 전처리 시간도 짧고, 이동이 간편하며, 저가이며, 단순함에도 불구하고 기존 방식과 비교하여 유사한 회수율을 보였다.

Keywords

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