Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Assessment of soil density and distribution coefficient of Cs-137 for deriving DCGLs in korea research reactor unit 1 and 2

  • Geun-Ho Kim (KRR Decommissioning Team, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Ilgook Kim (KRR Decommissioning Team, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Kwang Pyo Kim (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University)
  • Received : 2023.08.16
  • Accepted : 2024.02.03
  • Published : 2024.07.25
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Abstract

To obtain site-specific values of the Derived Concentration Guideline Levels (DCGLs) for decommissioning of KRR-1&2, the soil density and distribution coefficient values for Cs-137, a major contaminant radionuclide, were determined. The soil density was evaluated according to the test method established by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (KATS). The distribution coefficient was evaluated using a batch test. The validity of using the evaluated soil density and distribution coefficient as site-specific values was assessed through radiation dose assessment reflecting these values. Average soil density value obtained was 1.738 g/cm3, which was within the typical range of normal soil density, 1.0-1.8 g/cm3. The average distribution coefficient value was 7,754 mL/g. Applying the maximum, average, and minimum values of the evaluated soil density and distribution coefficient showed similar radiation dose results, thus suggesting that it is reasonable to use the average values of each parameter as site-specific values. Findings of this study can help determine DCGLs that reflect the characteristics of the research reactor site.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a research grant from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) [Grant No. 521240-23, South Korea].

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