Publications
Publication Information
| Title | Characterization of Measured Activity and Collection Efficiency of Tritium Smears |
| Authors | Adam Stavola, Adam Hartberger |
| JLAB number | JLAB-EHSQ-19-3009 |
| LANL number | (None) |
| Other number | DOE/OR/23177-6154 |
| Document Type(s) | (Meeting) |
| Associated with EIC: | No |
| Supported by Jefferson Lab LDRD Funding: | No |
| Funding Source: | Nuclear Physics (NP) |
|
Meeting Contributed Talk compiled for Annual Health Physics Society Meeting | |
| Publication Abstract: | Tritium particulate collection efficiency varies as a function of smear media. The use of porous smear materials leads to an increase in the measured tritium activity as a function of time when the measurement is performed with liquid scintillation counters. Operational inclusion of the efficiency differences and the time dependence of the tritium smear activity is necessary to preclude inadvertently releasing materials or areas. Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory Radiological Control Department identified a contaminated stainless steel containment vessel which previously housed a target containing more than 1000 Ci of tritium. The item was systematically sectioned and surveyed to compare three smear types: water-wetted cotton swabs, water-wetted paper smears, and ethanol-wetted Styrofoam wipes (NUC-Wipes trademarked). The total activity of each section was determined using repeated decontamination. The time dependence of the measured activity was also studied. The measured activity of both paper smears and cottons swabs showed significant time dependence. The cotton swabs also showed significantly reduced collection efficiency. Given the widespread use of both of these media in routine contamination surveys, site operational limits were derived using fitted curves for time dependence and average efficiency results. The use of these more restrictive limits allows for rapid measurement of tritium smears while ensuring regulatory compliance. |
| Experiment Numbers: | other |
| Group: | ESH&Q Division |
| Document: | pptx |
| DOI: | |
| Accepted Manuscript: | |
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