Obiettivo
TO DISCLOSE THE FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISMS OF RETENTION OF RADIONUCLIDES ON THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS USED IN URBAN AREAS AND TO DESIGN AND EXECUTE EXPERIMENTAL DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES.
Of all the radioactive fission and activation products that might be released, following a severe nuclear accident, caesium 134 and caesium 137 pose the greatest environmental threat. This was confirmed following the Chernobyl release when it was found that the single most important isotope, was caesium 137. Levels of caesium 137 in excess of 30 kBqm-2 were found, even at sites more than 2000 km from Chernobyl, and in this study a survey in Gavle (Sweden) revealed levels in excess of 100 kBqm-2. The present study has focused almost exclusively on countermeasures against contamination of urban surfaces by this isotope. It was found that the adsorbed caesium was retained tenaciously on these surfaces even under relatively stringent decontamination treatments. This was surprising, since caesium ions have a purely ionic chemistry and form no covalent complexes. Resolution of this anomaly was the next major objective in this research programme and an essential step in assessing surface decontamination (or prevention) strategies.
Campo scientifico
Argomento(i)
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CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinatore
3000 LEUVEN
Belgio