The Characteristics of 14C Chemical Composition in Reactor Coolant Water from PWR

Operation of nuclear power reactors produces a wide range of radioactive nuclides by products. The characteristics of 14C that distinguish it from many other radio nuclides produced by nuclear power operation, are long half-life of 5730 years and ease of assimilation into living organisms. Further more, the release of gaseous 14C compounds also result in a global dispersion of the nuclide. It is necessary to control the production in, as well as the release from nuclear facilities. 14C is a weak beta emitter(maximum energy 156 KeV) with both natural and anthropogenic source terms. 14C is produced mainly through neutron-induced reactions with 17O and 14N. A variety of gaseous, solid and liquid wastes containing 14C are generated during reactor operation. The production of 14C in the reactor coolant is almost entirely responsible for the release from PWR at the power plant site. Gaseous releases constitute the main release from this production source; the rest being accumulated in ion exchange resins or released as liquid discharges. This paper presents the results of an extensive investigation initiated by the domestic PWR through reactor coolant, with the general aim of obtaining new experimental data on 14C in terms of concentration and distribution(inorganic and organic)