Carbon-14 analysis in solidified product of non-metallic solid waste by a combination of alkaline fusion and gaseous CO2 trapping

In order to establish a simple and rapid analytical method for C-14 in solidified products made from nonmetallic low-level radioactive solid wastes such as concrete, mortar and glass by melting treatment, a radiochemical analysis in combination with alkaline fusion as a sample decomposition method was examined. A simulated solidified product containing C-14, which was prepared by using nuclear reaction N-14(n, p)C-14 with thermal neutron irradiation, was analyzed by the present method to compare with a conventional radiochemical analysis using oxidizing combustion. The reproducible and quantitative recovery of C-14 from the simulated solidified product indicates that the present method is more efficient for C-14 analysis in solidified products than the conventional method using oxidizing combustion. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.