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Investigating the 36Cl memory effect in pyrolysis of solid samples from nuclear decommissioning activities

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Abstract

During the optimization of 36Cl determination in solid wastes from nuclear decommissioning, a residual 36Cl signal was observed in procedural blanks measured after processing active samples. To uncover the possible causes, we investigated the interaction of chlorine with the components of a Pyrolyser-6 Trio™, as well as the chemicals used during the procedure. Different treatments for identifying the source of chlorine carryover were thoroughly investigated, demonstrating that the 36Cl memory effect arises from the interaction with pyrolyser components and that it occurs almost every time when the analysis procedure is performed. Therefore, results obtained using this analysis procedure need to be corrected for this memory effect by measuring procedural blank samples before and after measuring 36Cl-containing samples.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank ENGIE for sponsoring this project. We would also like to thank the LSC laboratory team at SCK CEN for their support.

Funding

No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCK CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium

    I. Llopart-Babot, M. Vasile, A. Dobney, S. Boden & M. Bruggeman

  2. AMGC, VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    M. Leermakers

  3. Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    J. Qiao

  4. National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    P. Warwick

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Llopart-Babot, I., Vasile, M., Dobney, A. et al. Investigating the 36Cl memory effect in pyrolysis of solid samples from nuclear decommissioning activities. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 4239–4249 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08492-x

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