Review of the analytical methods used in nuclear decommissioning. Application vs. aspiration - an EU-wide survey of methods in radioanalytical chemistry

The wave of decommissioning of nuclear facilities that Europe is facing now and in the near future requires a solid basis of efficient chemical and radiochemical analytical methods and capabilities. This study presents the results of a survey among European laboratories to summarize current practices, covering radionuclides, activity levels, sample types, and analytical instrumentation to create a clearer picture of the present status and future challenges. The results reflect the particularity of decommissioning, which requires analysis of a wide range of sample matrices. As a result, a wide variety of radioanalytical methods are deployed. However, gamma spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting and alpha spectrometry remain by far the dominant analytical methods. Despite the need for novel methods for specific nuclides, laboratories did not consider specialization or miniaturization of instruments as a focus for future developments. Rather, two types of challenges emerged most prominently: firstly, process optimization, such as improved and more integrated communication with customers and regulatory bodies and secondly, methodical improvements, such as the more widespread application of new technologies and enhanced availability of reference materials.