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Development of a method to measure the concentration of {sup 14}C in the stack air of nuclear power plants by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)

Abstract

C-14, a pure low-energetic beta-emitter, is produced through various nuclear reactions in nuclear power plants. Some of this C-14 is air-borne and is transported via the ventilation system through the stack of the power station and is integrated in living matter in the surroundings of the plant. The long half-life of the isotope (T1/2=5730 years) and the biological importance of carbon may lead to a not negligible contribution of the radiation dose for those living in the neighbourhood of nuclear power plants. C-14 has earlier been measured radiometrically with mainly two different methods, using proportional counters or liquid scintillators. In this report a new method is described, using an accelerator based technique. accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). This technique has at least three advantages over the radiometrical methods. It requires only a few litres of gas per sample, which is 100-1000 times less compared to the radiometrical methods. It is insensitive to the beta and gamma rays from other radioactive isotopes in the stack air. The measuring time with AMS, about 20 minutes per sample, is considerably shorter compared to the radiometrical methods, which demand several hours per sample. The integrity of the AMS method is high and it might be  More>>
Authors:
Stenstroem, K; Erlandsson, B; Hellborg, R; Haakansson, K; Wiebert, A; [1]  Skog, G [2] 
  1. Lund Univ. (Sweden). Dept. of Nuclear Physics
  2. Lund Univ. (Sweden). Dept. of Quaternary Geology
Publication Date:
Apr 01, 1993
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
LUNFD6-NFFR-3061-1-31-1993
Reference Number:
SCA: 440101; PA: AIX-25:015473; EDB-94:032231; ERA-19:010190; NTS-94:015138; SN: 94001146222
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Apr 1993
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; CARBON 14; RADIATION MONITORING; MASS SPECTROMETERS; RADIATION MONITORS; DESIGN; PELLETRON ACCELERATORS; SAMPLE PREPARATION; STACK DISPOSAL; VENTILATION SYSTEMS; 440101; GENERAL DETECTORS OR MONITORS AND RADIOMETRIC INSTRUMENTS
OSTI ID:
10123237
Research Organizations:
Lund Univ. (Sweden). Dept. of Nuclear Physics
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94612355; CNN: Project SSI-P--625-91; TRN: SE9300301015473
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS; INIS
Submitting Site:
SWDN
Size:
34 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Stenstroem, K, Erlandsson, B, Hellborg, R, Haakansson, K, Wiebert, A, and Skog, G. Development of a method to measure the concentration of {sup 14}C in the stack air of nuclear power plants by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Sweden: N. p., 1993. Web.
Stenstroem, K, Erlandsson, B, Hellborg, R, Haakansson, K, Wiebert, A, & Skog, G. Development of a method to measure the concentration of {sup 14}C in the stack air of nuclear power plants by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Sweden.
Stenstroem, K, Erlandsson, B, Hellborg, R, Haakansson, K, Wiebert, A, and Skog, G. 1993. "Development of a method to measure the concentration of {sup 14}C in the stack air of nuclear power plants by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)." Sweden.
@misc{etde_10123237,
title = {Development of a method to measure the concentration of {sup 14}C in the stack air of nuclear power plants by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)}
author = {Stenstroem, K, Erlandsson, B, Hellborg, R, Haakansson, K, Wiebert, A, and Skog, G}
abstractNote = {C-14, a pure low-energetic beta-emitter, is produced through various nuclear reactions in nuclear power plants. Some of this C-14 is air-borne and is transported via the ventilation system through the stack of the power station and is integrated in living matter in the surroundings of the plant. The long half-life of the isotope (T1/2=5730 years) and the biological importance of carbon may lead to a not negligible contribution of the radiation dose for those living in the neighbourhood of nuclear power plants. C-14 has earlier been measured radiometrically with mainly two different methods, using proportional counters or liquid scintillators. In this report a new method is described, using an accelerator based technique. accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). This technique has at least three advantages over the radiometrical methods. It requires only a few litres of gas per sample, which is 100-1000 times less compared to the radiometrical methods. It is insensitive to the beta and gamma rays from other radioactive isotopes in the stack air. The measuring time with AMS, about 20 minutes per sample, is considerably shorter compared to the radiometrical methods, which demand several hours per sample. The integrity of the AMS method is high and it might be convenient for regulatory supervision. (22 refs.).}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1993}
month = {Apr}
}