Carbon-14 analysis in solidified product of non-metallic solid waste by a combination of alkaline fusion and gaseous CO2 trapping

In order to establish a simple and rapid analytical method for 14C in solidified products made from non-metallic low-level radioactive solid wastes such as concrete, mortar and glass by melting treatment, a radiochemical analysis in combination with alkaline fusion as a sample decomposition method was examined. A simulated solidified product containing 14C, which was prepared by using nuclear reaction 14N(n, p)14C with thermal neutron irradiation, was analyzed by the present method to compare with a conventional radiochemical analysis using oxidizing combustion. The reproducible and quantitative recovery of 14C from the simulated solidified product indicates that the present method is more efficient for 14C analysis in solidified products than the conventional method using oxidizing combustion.