Analysis of uranium, plutonium and fission product nuclides in process solution during flush-out for decommissioning of reprocessing plant

Yamamoto, Masahiko   ; Horigome, Kazushi ; Goto, Yuichi ; Taguchi, Shigeo ; Kuno, Takehiko 

Flush-out of Tokai Reprocessing Plant was completed in February, 2024 for the preparation of process decontamination. Since remaining nuclear materials were contained in main process, purpose of the activities was to recover nuclear materials by transferring them to the highly radioactive liquid waste storage tank and converting uranium solution into uranium trioxide, and to rinse all related processes with nitric acid and water. During this activity, analysis of U and Pu was conducted for nuclear material control and accountancy. Appropriate analytical methods such as isotope dilution mass spectrometry, gravimetric method, spectrophotometry and alpha-ray counting methods were selected depending on the status of flush-out. Also, gamma-ray emitted nuclides in rinsing solution were detected by highly purified germanium detector. This paper describes analysis and its results related to flush-out activities of decommissioning in reprocessing plant.