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Investigation of candidates for reactor produced radioactive materials in support of radiological training exercises

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Abstract

Bromine-82, Potassium-42 and Copper-64 have been successfully adopted as radioactive surrogates for outdoor large area contamination training. The goal of this project was to discover new materials that could supplement potassium bromide (KBr) and copper pellets in radiological dispersal device (RDD) training events to reduce the down time of the training fields and to broaden the toolbox of the RDD surrogates at Idaho National Laboratory. Of the ten different materials investigated, sodium nitrite, gallium metal, and gallium oxide presented the greatest promise due to their ability to meet or exceed selection criteria: half-lives (between 10 and 36 h), limited impurities (99.9%), and favorable National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) rating.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Science Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Zachariah M. Heiden & C. Corey Hines

  2. Idaho National Laboratory, 1955 N Fremont Ave, 83415, Idaho Falls, ID, USA

    Nick R. Mann

  3. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Independence Ave, SW, 20585, Washington, DC, USA

    Steven Buntman

Authors
  1. Zachariah M. Heiden
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  2. C. Corey Hines
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  3. Nick R. Mann
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  4. Steven Buntman
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Correspondence to Nick R. Mann.

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Heiden, Z.M., Hines, C.C., Mann, N.R. et al. Investigation of candidates for reactor produced radioactive materials in support of radiological training exercises. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 333, 1231–1241 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-024-09371-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-024-09371-3

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