Abstract
For estimation of the activity of the long-lived 41Ca isotope in seven concrete samples exposed to a varying neutron flux, 45Ca activities in the samples were determined. Instead of total dissolution the concrete samples were treated with 8 M HCl and HNO3 for partial dissolution of calcium. From the leachate, stable calcium was determined by AAS and 45Ca activity with LSC after radiochemical separation while the total stable calcium in the concrete samples was determined by XRF. Calcium was separated from the leachates using cycles of precipitation and ion exchange. In addition to 45Ca, seventeen γ-emitting radionuclides were detected directly in the concrete samples by γ-spectrometry. Ratios of 45Ca activity concentrations to those of γ-emitting nuclides in the concrete samples with varying dose were more or less identical. Determination of 63Ni activity in the concrete samples failed because activity levels were below the detection limit.
© by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München, Germany
