Gamma spectrometry and radiation dose survey of radioactive materials at the PRR-1 storage facility

Authors

Ronald Daryll Espino Gatchalian ⋅ PH Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology
Alvie Asuncion Astronomo ⋅ PH Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology
Roberto Nievera Fontanilla ⋅ PH Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology
Eugene Sarmiento Gregorio ⋅ PH Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology
Florante Valderrama, Jr ⋅ PH Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology

Abstract

The radioactive material (RAM) inventory of the Philippine Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) is being updated in view of the plan to re-operate the facility as a subcritical assembly for training, education, and research in nuclear science and technology. To update the RAM inventory, we performed gamma spectrometry and radiation dose survey on seven unidentified items present in the PRR-1 fuel storage tank. Three of the items were confirmed to be neutron sources through the detection of secondary photons resulting from neutron interactions. Further analysis of the gamma spectra identified that out of these three, two are ²⁵²Cf and the other one is ²³⁹PuBe. In addition, two other items in the tank exhibited ⁶⁰Co gamma peaks indicating that these materials were activated due to neutron irradiation from the past operation of PRR-1. The last two remaining items were confirmed to be non-radioactive. These results provide information that will aid the effective management of disused sealed radioactive sources in the facility and will contribute to the safe and secure future operation of PRR-1.

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Issue

2019: Proceedings of the 37th Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2019-2E-04

Section

Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science

Published

2019-05-21

How to Cite

[1]

RDE Gatchalian, AA Astronomo, RN Fontanilla, ES Gregorio, and F Valderrama, Gamma spectrometry and radiation dose survey of radioactive materials at the PRR-1 storage facility, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 37, SPP-2019-2E-04 (2019). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2019-2E-04.