Analysis of tritium in concrete

There are some types of reactors using heavy water for a coolant and a moderator in the world. Structural materials of these reactors must be contaminated with tritium which have been generated from heavy hydrogen in a nuclear reaction during operation of the reactor. Contamination with the tritium in the reactor facilities, therefore, have to be checked prior to decommissioning of the facility. It is well known that tritium in solid body is necessary to be isolated from the body before the radioactivity measurement, because tritium is a β emitter. This paper describes a method for separation of tritium in concrete/mortar and for collection of the tritium which was developed in our organization, RANDEC. (author)