High resolution monitoring system for IRE stack releases

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Chemistry
• Environmental Monitoring
• Radioisotope Production

Background:

• Institute for Radio-Element (IRE) produces medical radioisotopes (99)Mo and (131)I from High Enriched Uranium (HEU) targets.
• Radioisotope production releases fission products, including noble gases (Xe, Kr), necessitating release monitoring.
• IRE is committed to reducing environmental releases and adhering to Belgium's regulatory limits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an accurate monitoring system for gaseous releases at IRE.
• To identify and quantify specific radioisotope releases, particularly noble gases and iodine isotopes.
• To support IRE's mission of continuous release reduction and environmental stewardship.

Main Methods:

• A specialized monitoring system with a high-resolution HPGe detector was developed.
• Continuous air sampling from the plant's main stack.
• Sampled gases are concentrated using charcoal cartridges to enhance detection efficiency.
• On-line spectrum analysis allows for the separate identification and quantification of isotopes.

Main Results:

• The system enables accurate, interference-free identification and estimation of gaseous isotopes, including noble gases (Xe, Kr).
• Iodine isotopes can be measured by integration on the charcoal cartridges.
• The system provides valuable data for understanding release origins during production and maintenance.

Conclusions:

• The developed monitoring system is crucial for accurately estimating IRE's radioisotope releases.
• This tool assists in identifying the source of specific releases, aiding process optimization.
• The system supports IRE's commitment to environmental protection and regulatory compliance.