Accurate determination of 41Ca concentrations in spent resins from the nuclear industry by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes 2013-12, Vol.82, p.340-346
• Main Authors: Nottoli, Emmanuelle, Bourlès, Didier, Bienvenu, Philippe, Labet, Alexandre, Arnold, Maurice, Bertaux, Maité
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 41Ca; Accelerator mass spectrometry; Calcium Radioisotopes - analysis; Chemical Precipitation; Cobalt Radioisotopes - analysis; Decontamination; Ion Exchange Resins; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Mass Spectrometry - statistics & numerical data; Nuclear Power Plants; Potassium Radioisotopes - isolation & purification; PWR resins; Radioactive Waste - analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Waste management
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.09.005

The radiological characterisation of nuclear waste is essential for managing storage sites. Determining the concentration of Long‐Lived RadioNuclides (LLRN) is fundamental for their long-term management. This paper focuses on the measurement of low 41Ca concentrations in ions exchange resins used for primary fluid purification in Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR). 41Ca concentrations were successfully measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) after the acid digestion of resin samples, followed by radioactive decontamination and isobaric suppression through successive hydroxide, carbonate, nitrate and final CaF2 precipitations. Measured 41Ca concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.03ng/g, i.e. from 0.06 to 0.09Bq/g. The 41Ca/60Co activity ratios obtained were remarkably reproducible and in good agreement with the current ratio used for resins management. •In the context of radioactive waste management, this study aimed at measuring 41Ca in spent resins using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry.•A chemical treatment procedure was developed to quantitatively recover calcium in solution and selectively extract it.•Developed firstly on synthetic matrices, the chemical treatment procedure was then successfully applied to real resin samples.•Accelerator mass spectrometry allowed measuring concentrations of 41Ca in spent resins as low as 0.02ng/g of dry resin.•Final results are in agreement with current data used for spent resins management.