Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) (방사성폐기물학회지)

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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A Rapid Analysis of 226Ra in Raw Materials and By-Products Using Gamma-ray Spectrometry

감마분광분석을 이용한 원료물질 및 공정부산물 중 226Ra 신속분석방법

  • Received : 2017.01.19
  • Accepted : 2017.03.03
  • Published : 2017.03.30
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Abstract

A gamma-ray peak of $^{226}Ra$ (186.2 keV) overlaps with one of $^{235}U$ (185.7 keV) in a gamma-ray spectrometry system. Though reference peaks of $^{235}U$ can be used to correct the peak interference of $^{235}U$ in the analysis of $^{226}Ra$, this requires a complicated calculation process and a high limit of quantitation. On the other hand, evaluating $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant in the overlapped peak can make a rapid measurement of $^{226}Ra$ without the complicated calculation process as well as overcome the disadvantage in the indirect measurement of $^{214}Bi$, which means the confinement of $^{222}Rn$ gas in a sample container and a time period to recover the secular equilibrium. About 93 samples with 6 species for raw-materials and by-products were prepared to evaluate the activity of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant. The results were compared with the activity of $^{214}Bi$, which means the indirect measurement of $^{226}Ra$, to validate the method of the direct measurement of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant. The difference between the direct and indirect measurement of $^{226}Ra$ was generally below about ${\pm}20%$. However, in the case of the phospho gypsum, a large error of about 50% was found in the comparison results, which indicates the disequilibrium between $^{238}U$ and $^{226}Ra$ in the materials. Application results of the contribution ratio of $^{226}Ra$ were below about ${\pm}10%$. The direct measurement of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant can be an effective method for its rapid measurement of raw materials and by-products because the activity of $^{226}Ra$ can be produced with a simple calculation without the consideration of the integrity of a sample container and the time period to recover the secular equilibrium.

감마분광분석 시스템 상에서는 $^{226}Ra$(186.2 keV)과 $^{235}U$(185.7 keV)가 방출하는 감마선 에너지의 피크 중첩이 발생한다. $^{226}Ra$의 직접분석을 위해서는 중첩된 피크로부터 $^{235}U$의 기여를 제거해주거나 보정상수를 이용하여 실제 $^{226}Ra$의 방사능 값으로 보정 해주어야 한다. $^{235}U$가 방출하는 다른 감마선 피크를 참조하여 $^{235}U$의 기여를 제거할 경우 복잡한 수계산이 필요하며, 참조피크에서 기인하는 큰 불확도로 인해 높은 정량한계를 갖는다. 반면에 보정상수를 이용하여 $^{226}Ra$을 평가할 경우 간단한 계산으로 평가가 가능하며, 간접측정시 요구되는 $^{222}Rn$의 용기건전성과 방사평형 복구기간이 필요하지 않아 $^{226}Ra$의 신속 측정시 유용한 방법이다. 따라서 해당 방법을 통해 원료물질 3종과 공정부산물 3종, 총 93여개 시료에 대해서 보정상수로 산출된 $^{226}Ra$의 방사능 농도와 방사평형 된 $^{214}Bi$의 방사능 농도의 비교를 통해 유효성을 확인하였다. 대부분 ${\pm}20%$ 내에서 유효하였지만 인산석고의 경우 약 50%의 오차를 보였다. 이는 보정상수를 유도하기 위한 가정 중 $^{238}U$과 $^{226}Ra$의 방사평형 관계가 달라진 것으로 판단된다. 특이성을 반영한 보정상수를 적용하여 $^{226}Ra$의 방사능 농도에 대한 유효성을 평가한 결과 약 ${\pm}10%$로 좀 더 정밀한 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 산출된 보정상수를 통한 $^{226}Ra$의 방사능 농도 평가 방법은 복잡한 수계산이 필요하지 않고 용기선택으로부터 자유로우며 방사평형 복구를 위한 기간이 필요하지 않아 원료물질 및 공정부산물의 $^{226}Ra$의 신속한 농도 분포 평가시 유효한 방법이다.

Keywords

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