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

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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Radiochemical Analysis of Filters Used During the Decommissioning of Research Reactors for Disposal

  • Received : 2022.06.29
  • Accepted : 2022.09.26
  • Published : 2022.12.30
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Abstract

The decommissioning of nuclear facilities produces various types of radiologically contaminated waste. In addition, dismantlement activities, including cutting, packing, and clean-up at the facility site, result in secondary radioactive waste such as filters, resin, plastic, and clothing. Determining of the radionuclide content of this waste is an important step for the determination of a suitable management strategy including classification and disposal. In this work, we radiochemically characterized the radionuclide activities of filters used during the decommissioning of Korea Research Reactors (KRRs) 1 and 2. The results indicate that the filter samples contained mainly 3H (500-3,600 Bq·g-1), 14C (7.5-29 Bq·g-1), 55Fe (1.1- 7.1 Bq·g-1), 59Ni (0.60-1.0 Bq·g-1), 60Co (0.74-70 Bq·g-1), 63Ni (0.60-94 Bq·g-1), 90Sr (0.25-5.0 Bq·g-1), 137Cs (0.64-8.7 Bq·g-1), and 152Eu (0.19-2.9) Bq·g-1. In addition, the gross alpha radioactivity of the samples was measured to be between 0.32-1.1 Bq·g-1. The radionuclide concentrations were below the concentration limit stated in the low- and intermediatelevel waste acceptance criteria of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, and used for the disposal of the KRRs waste drums to a repository site.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the KAERI Institutional Program (Project No. 521320-22).

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