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http://dx.doi.org/10.7733/jnfcwt.2020.18.2(E).227

Review of the Gross Alpha for Characterization of Radioactive Waste  

Kim, Hyuncheol (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Lim, Jong-Myoung (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Jang, Mee (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Park, Ji-Young (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) / v.18, no.2_spc, 2020 , pp. 227-235 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, we discussed the limitations of gross alpha measurements for the characterization of radioactive wastes produced in nuclear facilities through experimental tests and Monte Carlo N-particle transport simulations. The determination of gross alpha is essential for the disposal of radioactive waste produced in nuclear facilities in Korea. The measurements of gross alpha are easy to perform and yield rapid analytical results, but it cannot be used for quantitative analysis. The error of counting efficiency for gross alpha with various masses of the deposit on planchets using KCl and 241Am was determined. The relative deviation of the counting efficiency in samples having the same mass was 20%. Uranium was extracted from the soil through acid leaching and extraction chromatography, and the concentration of U determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was compared with the results for gross alpha. The gross alpha was underestimated by 50% compared to the U concentration by ICP-MS. The counting efficiency depended on the energy from the alpha emitters, which differed by up to three times in determination of the counting efficiency depending on the kinds of alpha radionuclides of interest. Therefore, the gross alpha is not compatible with the sum of radioactivity for each alpha emitter and is suitable as a screening method.
Keywords
Gross alpha; Disposal; Radioactive waste; Radiological characterization;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
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