Wei Hwa-Jou, Tsai Tsuey-Lin, Wang Jeng-Jong, Chen Ing-Jane, Wuu Jyi-Lan, Wang Tzu-Wen
Chemical Analysis Division, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Longtan 32546, Taiwan.
Appl Radiat Isot. 2009 May;67(5):944-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.01.080. Epub 2009 Jan 30.
The nuclear facilities at Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) had been successively decommissioned and decontaminated over the recent years. Since dismantling was a complex task, to achieve the main goal was minimization of radioactive waste production and required the set-up of procedures, criteria of free release, strict follow-up and traceability at all steps. This study gave an overview of the efforts on non-destructive assay (NDA) of relatively large volumes of waste and the sampling of contaminated waste with radiochemical analysis was utilized to determine the radionuclide vectors. The experiences of free release planning and measurement of a very low level radioactivity with high throughput for scrapped metal at the INER and the technical achievements in this research could offer a reference of decision-making by the competent authority.