Vegetation and soil sampling for detection of enrichment facilities
The concept of being able to detect clandestine nuclear operations rests on the fact that they invariably lose material characteristic of the process to the environment. This material can be collected and characterized using highly sensitive analytical techniques. The extent to which these signatures penetrate the environment depends on the type of process and the care taken at the facility to control losses. An enrichment facility that uses UF{sub 6}, a gas, will tend to lose more than a reactor because gases are harder to contain then solids. Any nuclear facility, like industrial processes everywhere, loses some characteristic material to the environment. The issues involved in acquiring environmental samples from around nuclear facilities are discussed, with the primary application being safeguards. Sampling plans, sample acquisition, analytical techniques, and data interpretation are described.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 10159242
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-12697; ON: DE94013405
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Detection of uranium enrichment activities using environmental monitoring techniques
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SOILS
SAMPLING
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
AIR
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENRICHED URANIUM
PRODUCTION
PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
DETECTION
ENRICHMENT
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
055000
540230
540330
540130
SAFEGUARDS, INSPECTION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT