title: Accurate determination of ⁴¹Ca concentrations in spent resins from the nuclear industry by accelerator mass spectrometry.
abstract: 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 (41)Ca concentrations in ions exchange resins used for primary fluid purification in Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR). (41)Ca 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 (41)Ca concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 ng/g, i.e. from 0.06 to 0.09 Bq/g. The (41)Ca/(60)Co activity ratios obtained were remarkably reproducible and in good agreement with the current ratio used for resins management.
authors.affiliation: CEA, DEN, DEC, SA3C, LARC, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France. Electronic address: enottoli@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nottoli
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourlès
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labet
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Maité
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertaux
mesh_terms: D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D003666:Decontamination; D007475:Ion Exchange Resins; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055848:Nuclear Power Plants; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007475:Ion Exchange Resins; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste
keywords: (41)Ca; Accelerator mass spectrometry; PWR resins; Waste management