Pages: 280-286

Authors: Gholamreza Moradi, Asghar Sadighzadeh, Rasoul Yarahmadi, Leila Omidi, Ali Asghar Farshad, and Behzad Rezaei Fard

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to determine the levels of radioactivity in the Tehran research reactor containment and to investigate the mass-size distribution, composition, and concentration of radionuclides during operation of the reactor. A cascade impactor sampler was used to determine the size-activity distributions of radioactive aerosols in each of the sampling stations. Levels of α and β activities were determined based on a counting method using a liquid scintillation counter and smear tests. The total average mass fractions of fine particles (particle diameter dp < 1 µm) in all of the sampling stations were approximately 26.75 %, with the mean and standard deviation of 52.15 ± 19.75 µg/m³. The total average mass fractions of coarse particles were approximately 73.2%, with the mean and standard deviation of 71.34 ± 24.57 µg/m³. In addition to natural radionuclides, artificial radionuclides, such as ²⁴Na, ⁹¹Sr, ¹³¹I, ¹³³I, ¹⁰³Ru, ⁸²Br, and ¹⁴⁰La, may be released into the reactor containment structure. Maximum activity was associated with accumulation-mode particles with diameters less than 400 nm. The results obtained from liquid scintillation counting suggested that the mean specific activity of alpha particles in fine and coarse-modes were 89.7 % and 10.26 %, respectively. The mean specific activity of beta particles in fine and coarse-modes were 81.15 % and 18.51 %, respectively. A large fraction of the radionuclides' mass concentration in the Tehran research reactor containment was associated with coarse-mode particles, in addition, a large fraction of the activity in the aerosol particles was associated with accumulation-mode particles.

Key words: radionuclide, mass-size distribution, particle, activity, research reactor

FULL PAPER IN PDF FORMAT (2.85 MB)