Investigation of a new approach for 36Cl determination in solid samples using plastic scintillators

Inés Llopart, Mirela Vasile, Albert Tarancón, Héctor Bagán, Andrew Dobney, Sven Boden, Michel Bruggeman, Martine Leermakers, Jixin Qiao, Phil Warwick

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

This work reports a new approach for the determination of 36Cl in radioactive waste samples from nuclear decommissioning, wherein novel plastic scintillator (PS) materials were used for the concentration of 36Cl prior to the detection with scintillation counting. Different plastic scintillator (PS) materials were tested for their selective absorption and detection of 36Cl activity in solid samples. PS microspheres (PSm), cross-linked PSm (CPSm) and PS resin have been investigated. PS resin was identified as the most suitable material for 36Cl analysis. Pyrolysis and subsequent trapping of the volatile elements in a bubbler was used. The trapping solution was finally loaded onto a cartridge of the PS resin. Scintillation counting and ion chromatography were used to determine the activity concentration and the chemical recovery, respectively.
Original languageEnglish
Article number110646
Number of pages10
JournalApplied Radiation and Isotopes
Volume193
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation

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