Determination of chemical forms of 14C in liquid discharges from nuclear power plants

J Environ Radioact. 2017 Oct:177:256-260. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.07.002. Epub 2017 Jul 16.

Abstract

Developments of radioanalytical methods for determination of radiocarbon in wastewaters from nuclear power plants (NPP) with pressurized light water reactors, which would distinguish between the dissolved organic and inorganic forms have been carried out. After preliminary tests, the method was used to process pilot samples from wastewater outlets from the Temelín and Dukovany NPPs (Czech Republic). The results of analysis of pilot water samples collected in 2015 indicate that the instantaneous 14C releases into the water streams would be about 7.10-5 (Temelín) and 4.10-6 (Dukovany) of the total quantity of the 14C liberated into the environment.

Keywords: Analytical routines; Dissolved inorganic forms of (14)C (DOC); Dissolved organic forms of (14)C (DIC); Liquid releases; Nuclear power plant (NPP).

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Nuclear Power Plants*
  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Wastewater / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*

Substances

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive