Abstract
Radioanalytical methods for the determination of isotopes of Pu, Am and Cm in water samples from nuclear power plants were compared and further developed in a Nordic project (Optimethod) through two intercomparison exercises among Nordic laboratories. With this intercomparison, the analytical performance of some laboratories was improved by modification of the analytical method and adopting new techniques. The obtained results from the two intercomparisons for alpha emitting transuranium isotopes are presented, and the lessons learnt from these intercomparison exercises are discussed.
Highlights
In total 12 partners, including all Swedish and Finnish nuclear power plants, some Nordic academic research institutes and radiation safety authorities participated in this project focusing on the intercomparison of transuranium isotopes by alpha spectrometry
Low recoveries of the transuranium elements were reported by some laboratories that resulted in higher measurement uncertainty of the radionuclide concentration and a higher detection limit
The reason for the low and varying recovery is difficult to track, due to several steps in the radiochemical separation procedure, and the loss of transuranium nuclides might occur in any step of the procedure, e.g. pre-concentration, radiochemical separation, or target preparation for alpha spectrometry measurement
Summary
Nordic co-operation has been continuing among institutes in the fields of radiochemistry and nuclear safety via Nordic nuclear safety research (NKS) programs for over 40 years.Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Laboratory of Toxicology and Radiation Protection, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland 6 Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB, Östhammar, Sweden 7 Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), CBRN Defence and Security, 164 90 Stockholm, Sweden 8 Ringhals AB, Väröbacka, Sweden 9 Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant, Fortum, Power and Heat Oy, Loviisa, FinlandIn many of the past NKS-funded projects, intercomparison exercises have been performed for evaluating the performance of different separation and detection methods used in Nordic radiochemistry laboratories, as well as for developing new advanced methodologies [1,2,3,4,5]. In a recent twoyear NKS project called Optimethod, two intercomparison campaigns were organized with the aim to analyze alpha emitting isotopes of transuranium elements in different NPP (nuclear power plant) water samples [6, 7] In both intercomparisons, transuranium isotopes 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm and 243+244Cm were radiochemically separated and measured by alpha spectrometry. In total 12 partners, including all Swedish and Finnish nuclear power plants, some Nordic academic research institutes and radiation safety authorities participated in this project focusing on the intercomparison of transuranium isotopes by alpha spectrometry. These laboratories normally work on radiochemical analysis of either NPP samples and/or with environmental and food samples, as well as with method development for radiological preparedness. This goal was achieved by validation and optimization of the analytical method used in the Nordic laboratories through
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