PEMBUATAN SUMBER RADIASI GAMMA 137Cs DENGAN AKTIVITAS 20 mCi DARI PEB U3Si2-Al PASCA IRADIASI DALAM CONTAINER STAINLESS STEEL

Abstract

In the post-irradiation examination of fuel element plate (PEB) U₃Si₂-Al), a solution of high activity as a result of testing nuclear fuel stored in hot cell with enough volume. The solution cannot be discarded as waste because it still contains fission isotope such as¹³⁷Cs, uranium and trans uranium, which has a long half-life and dangerous for the environment. This can help the industry in order to fulfill the needs of a radioactive source in Indonesia, because until now ¹³⁷Cs isotope is derived from foreign industries. In addition, the procurement and transportation of isotopes ¹³⁷Cs require stringent requirements, because they have toget permission from the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BAPETEN), thus causing the price of high activity ¹³⁷Cs isotopes becomes expensive to Indonesia. For these reasons, BATAN as nuclear R&D institutions in Indonesia need to study make isotopes ¹³⁷Cs gamma radiation source, which is contained in the waste from spent fuel test results U₃Si₂-Al. Isotope ¹³⁷Cs can be used very widely, such as in the analysis of environmental samples, the oil and gas industry, construction, radiography, fisheries, hospitals, and mining. Making isotope ¹³⁷Cs gamma radiation source starting from the collection of waste from the test results PEB U₃Si₂- Al. Waste solution was collected in a bottle with volume 65 mL. Collection of ¹³⁷Cs isotopes of other fission carried out using the method of cation exchange with weight 45 gr of zeolite Lampung. The results of separation are ¹³⁷Cs-zeolite in the solid phase and the other isotopes are in the liquid phase. ¹³⁷Cs-zeolite solid is then dried and then weighed and measured its activity using a spectrometer-g. Result of analysis by spectrometer-g was obtained activity of ¹³⁷Cs-zeolite solids was 20 mCi.¹³⁷Cs-zeolite solids then packed in sealed containers (shield source) capsule-shaped stainless steel and then certificate by PTKMR-BATAN.