RADIOCHEMICAL METHODS IN NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT

Radiochemical techniques play an important role in nuclear waste manag ement studies at the Centre for Analytical Research in the Environment . Current research includes the measurement of atmospheric emissions f rom a reprocessing plant, modelling of environmental pathways, and eva luation of reactor materials for the prediction of releases from ultim ate disposal sites. A radiochemical separation procedure has been deve loped for I-129, which has been applied to a study of emissions from t he Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. Atmospheric emissions, rainf all, grass, milk and wild food are analysed to model the ultimate fate of I-129. A new procedure has been developed for measuring sub-ppm co ncentrations of chlorine in archive steel samples as part of programme to produce an inventory of arisings of Cl-36 from nuclear power stati ons. The method has been extended to other reactor materials and this paper describes the application of the radiochemical method for Magnox alloys, mild steel and cast iron.