Actinides AMS at CIRCE and236U and Pu measurements of structural and environmental samples from in and around a mothballed nuclear power plant

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De Cesare, M.
Fifield, L. K.
Sabbarese, C.
Tims, S. G.
De Cesare, N.
D'Onofrio, A.
D'Arco, A.
Esposito, A. M.
Petraglia, A.
Roca, V.

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Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is presently the most sensitive technique for the measurement of long-lived actinides, e.g.236U and239Pu. A new actinide line is in operation at the Center for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental heritage (CIRCE) in Caserta, Italy. Using the actinide line a uranium mass sensitivity of around 4 μg has been reached measuring with a 16-strip silicon detector, and a239Pu background level of below 0.1 fg has been obtained. In this work we also discuss preliminary results for environmental and structural samples from in and around the Garigliano nuclear power plant (GNPP), presently in the decommissioning phase. Measurements on environmental samples from the vicinity of the plant allow the assessment of contamination, if any, over the years. Measurements of structural samples from the plant are relevant to the optimization of the decommissioning program for the GNPP.

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Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

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