Tritium release during different decommissioning techniques

In the field of decommissioning and decontamination, multiple difficulties arise. The main issues in tritium decontamination are due to its ability to permeate through virtually any material. As a result, the release of tritium from contaminated materials is affected by multiple parameters, complicating the exact characterization and choice of the decontamination strategy. Research efforts by the decontamination and clean-up processes group at SCK•CEN are currently concentrating on two different projects. In the first project, the dismantling of an obsolete tritium installation is evaluated. Parts of this installation have tritium inventories in the MBq/g range. Tritium release using several cutting techniques and the tritium inventory of the resulting cut parts and secondary materials, such as sawdust and cutting curls, is investigated. The second project concerns the detritiation and safe conversion of tritiated NaK into less reactive carbonates.