ML20236U593

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Forwards MURR Statement About Topaz
ML20236U593
Person / Time
Site: University of Missouri-Columbia
Issue date: 05/15/1986
From: Brugger R
MISSOURI, UNIV. OF, COLUMBIA, MO
To: Scheibinz E
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML20236U580 List:
References
FOIA-87-500 NUDOCS 8712030179
Download: ML20236U593 (7)
v • d • e


Text

. '

. f.eeseveuen

' L L. 4f W g ' ,.

4 1 . Research Reactor Faciley UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI no snp cose nt s w est u leesphone (314) 887 eru 1

, May 15, 1986 i

Ed Schweibinz Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region III 799 Roosevelt, 31ds. 4  :

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 j l

Dear Ed:

Attached is a copy of the MURR statement about topar. The first table is j included. Several sentences in the table have been altered to try to' clarify I the statements. j Give us a call if you have questions.

Sincyly, R rt M. Brugger Director RMB/dd 8712030179 871130 PDR FOIA EDWARDS87-500 PDR

[J b7 p- -

COLUMBIA KANSAS CITY ROLLA ST. LOUIS

._ . . . - - . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . . , _ .sv 191lle6

May 14, 1986 1 These are MURR's answers to several questions put to us en May 14 about the irradiation of topar to introduce color centers to give a blue color to the stones, lackgreur1: When topaz is irradiated with high energy electrons, eslor centers are introduced that give the stones a light blue color. When tapaz is irradiated with high energy neutrons, celer centers are introduced that give i the stones a dark blee colar. For the last several years, NilRR has been

) developing the methods for the second type of irradfatten. Bestrens de est introduce any long lived radioactivity into the principal constituents of topar (A1, 51, F, 0, N, N). Most topaz has trace amounts of leparities and at /

- the time of irradiation these c4n become radioactive; f.e., Ta, Cs and $c are v of ten offenders. In most cases the topaz has to he held till these unste

.- products decay away, y*

  1. Question 1. Describe your procedures for irradiatten of gemstones and the e range of Induced activities obtained to date.

At alRR, topar is irradiated with fast neutrons by placing a group of topaz stones in a sealed Al irradiation can. This can is shielded with a thermal neutron absorbing unterial and then irradiated for several boers to several days in an irradiation position in the graphite reflector of the IERR.

The cans are removed and held for days to months to let the Al activity to the can dec4f, then they are opened and the topaz are removed.

Several different trace tapurities may be detected at this Star from differest batches of stones. The stones any have sferocuries er more of activity tamediately af ter irradiation, but this decays to below the picacurie range. The amount of leparities is very dependent en the reglemal source from which the topaz case. The attached table shows a typical count using one of our sensitive and calibrated te detectors. A amiber of particular activltles are detected. The next tables show similar counts of stones held till the activity has gone away and the stones would be released to be shfpped.

Questles t. Deserthe the methods utfitted to measure the indeced activities and she activlties FeSaIRIEg at the time of distribution f9r the geestsees irradiated to date.

To potrantee that the topaz released for shipping are not radioactive, each stsee is counted in a sensitive Ra! well detector. This detector is shielded alth eere than two inches of lead in all directions to reduce the

/ backgreed to a very low level. The background is checked perledfoally, f.e.,

yh very Is minutes, and a correction made if necessary. The backpiound rates in

.p e shielded detectors are 100-200 counts per afnete. This same detector nts about 2000 counts per minute unshielded out in the open. The Bal detectar is 55s efficient for detecttag a gamma rey. Each stone is dropped

/% .

i nto the well detector and counted for 12 or wre seconds. Each stone is also weigh (et at the tfat of counting so that the counts can be put as a per gran basis. If the count rate is less than 300 co' nts e above background per minute M. 300 C Pri 7 T6C6

per gram, the stones are dropped into a bin for release. If the counts are higher, the stones are dropped into other bins and held to be recounted at a later tier.

With the above counting method, any activity rossining free the tapurf ties at the time of release is lost in the background measured in the uses1 my with a hand monitor in an unshielded locatten. Aar activity roamistag is not sigetf1 cant 1y difforent from natural background. See the attached tables for examples of the " detected activity" in several stones as seasured by a sensitive, well shielded Ge detector.

Question 3._ specify the anximum activity that you permit in geestones to be Ustributea to the public and your justification and quality controf system for this activity. l The saalous activity that we permit in a single stone is "none" when measured with the standard methods of measuring contamination in a sample to be released, that is, when measured with a calibrated MP hand monitor in a location uhere only natural backgrounds are present. The anximum activity ,

that we permit is not significantly above background when sensured with an efficient Nel well detector. This is about 40 ILq per gras _or less. For some stones, the

  • detected activity" is detectable when measured with a well shielded, efficient Ge detector. l The justification for the above limits is:
  • Each stone is counted individually.
  • The limits are less than about 40 Sq per gram.

h

  • The activity is not part of the coloring of the stone; it is an tapurity, a waste product, a centastaant. It is well below the

+3 levels of release for other waste products.

  • The methods we use to verify that the activity is very lov are capable of detecting activity at a much louer level than other methods used to detect activity that is released for shipptag, or disposal. It is 1euer than for an object that has been at the reactor and is surveyed and released as not contaminated or radioactive.
  • The goality control that we exercise is based on sensitive sensuring devices that are cross checked against other sensitive detectors that we have; computer controlled stone counting systems that have been designed to be fall-safe; and an extensive recording system to track batches of stones.

gu oo *

& eWexc, kcctrr J 7:'us t *W, T ta w y W t'ind a vb o lActc ur ' 8tk an Mler 1%es IN$

. c a s o n s a s s a's u s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s i essansumassammassmansassa 15-MAY-86 14341810 -ssssssssssssssssssssssas. 1 asones s s s s s s ss sss sssss s s ssssss s ss ssssssssssssss s s sssssss ss sssssansassas u ssa TOPc2 ACTIVITY SURVEY Soople Ostet 15-MAY-1986 12 00100 Satple Identificatient DAX-92

' Typo of Samplet . TOPAZ--SLUE SO:ple Suentityt 0 9070000 Units! CRAMS Senple Geometry! PS3 Effielency File Womet RCHM..PS-3.. ERNE j cacasu s s s s s ss s s s s s s s s s s s s ss ss s s s s s ss s s s s s s s s s a m m a s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s sssss s s s s s a 1 m i Acquire Date! 15-MAY-1986 14:17 38 a FWHM(1332)! 1.85 3 600. see- a Sensitivity Procet Time (Live)! 2.70 E1cesed Res! Tiset 400. see a Shape Persnetert 5.00 1 Elcesed Live Time! 400. see a Iterationst 10. j u

saccassan ss a n s sssssan s u u s s s s s s s ss su sas s a m ma n u s s s ssssssss ssssssssssanu sz u z za >

a  !

Datcetor: RCHEM a Pileup Factort 0 938  !

Colib Date! 7-APR-1986 12:00300 m Energy Tolerance! 1.50 tew

9. Coeff3 0.000E+00 kev /chniss2 m Half Life Ratiot 20.00 Slepet 0.7791850 kev /chn1 s Abundance Limitt 50.00 1 i Offeett 0.9036100 kev a Start /Endt 50 to este  ;

a nunsass a s s a nz m a s s a s s as s u n ss a n u s z u s z us san a s s a ma n n u m a na s s assam ass amassu ns s ans i

l i

Activity Upper limit to CFR Peecentsee.  !

Icctope Halflife (oci) (uct/sa) (uct/en) Emeept Limit i o =o======================================================================= '

SC-46 83.83 D 1.55E-03 1.93E-03 4.00E-04 491 5 2'  !

FE-59 44.50 D 1.07E-04 1.32E-04 4.00E-04 22.0 Y I TC-99MT 6.02 M 2.10E-04 2.40E-04 4.00E-03 43E )

cc-110M' 249.76 0 2.10E-04 2.61E-04 3.00E-04 36 9 x l I-133

g=j htMff/gm _

&{y - hol{0h tw Norf .

{

e ..o s e e ... e e .< ooose co e e e oe s c oe.e < os e e e + e e o e s e e s e e < oe oeooooooo,4 e.oeosee.e.eseeo. 1 :-t%Y-De ; c. 4. 0 f. ooosseconeo,oeoto e o . o o e . . e . e e +oc o o e

. + + + *

  • 4 e e e + + +. e . e e + e e + . e e e e . . . . . e 4 e e 4. e Tio A* A I l v j l y 1.tM't s

$491 . .' 16.~.1 t : 14 Mt.Y-(46 12: M: fi:

....~.';. 11.: r. : t .: . . . : I f ed: ban .

1s t vi t 4~. ...I : 1(n A --Us.ui

..Mt LE O U4.; . I l Y -. 3. 6s.86 6(. UN111.:

.? v ;.. . .:e.. . % . ; I .,:.

GkAh.

I e1riFu % t 1 t l' N.S.".Lr i i i . i . ,, ,

ococoo+++++++,,++,4 +++++e+++4i4 <  : 4+ ire .344,e...  :,eo .

o

. . . w. . ... s. :

. q e .s.

1:;-ht,i-t.c. ;;;; , .: j y: , p.ggg g 3, ,) )

  • L, , ,,..

8 *E i t,1 ,M

. 'LIVL*: 60.; . $.L:i.

,

  • SLN.1TIVITy: -

i .. y c c t i i :. ~. 12mi: e. pie, et.. ,, t,ng.g pg.gng g . [:; ,2

, . . ,i.I'

. .... :. .. ;. c.s ,u nu u..r. . t.:

, m,- 311. ,,,. n ,.,s.,, ,,,

s

.~.....,. 2. ..< . :.-ee...... ~ , .. m u....,e...ee++....-e....,

4

~. " i p p'.

t ., 3.y7,,. 3 . g. ,a , g.

~', ". ;.. .f. . N . ;p' ",' 2 f FM : 6 :

  • E Neb.. e 1 ...E h Arc L : 1 W,p.y

- f . ., % > ,.

. ': -14 1 :

9. oo.* 1 e.e ttV s s:, s t : y u;.- ::.. .

s l

  • ABUNDM.J. LIMIT: ~ c' g.fy,,

..+...... 4~. .

...i..,4.e.....e...<.e.e.e m +e...e...... r e<

l l

1 t I . t.t. v P-:ODF .~. lin E : 21 s.u li-t<4-l rl : v r .' .a M.o &

.  : 12 u; .:n,. i z. . . . .u ,A.._

1  :#i VE UC U. fl.* .

UC/ 0".

.s . %  ;< ! _' . s . . 5. 5+r;_4 a s,,. g pi_p

&gesf cruetegat g , g4 , _ s a,.; , ,: , ,

ND ='..S.:y4 '. . Gi:i:-f4 10TAL = *. .9. 2 0'<.

i 1

~ '

o e o eoc e eee ee eee o eoooococeee e e * * *

  • coc o o* e e eeee eeee e ee 04 ee ee e o.

o ooooooeeeeeeees 1. - ts s - a . .

r: oc ocee e e e e e eocees a...,........ 44...........+++ee.. .is e ,40eoe4oee.oe4eeeeeee 1

1. e .,2 A i1ei!Y ti Uf 'VL 4 14 - Mii , -GA : . :i*0: F-

-tem. . & 141t :

.t.e : .. t. I M t.' 16- 1 LA1101.': t. .

' VI s.nl . .'4 P . L: 10P47-h 3 '- .

1. 2' .ItN i (116'l l '..: lshAM .i I 0.APW L l- Us.6AN1314:

=Sel*as 'a t. 4.st.e.4 Pat. I h t

  • f *i .

t e } \. . : t. -

I }Li f a.' t .i

  • Ui.'4  ::

1 4

.. a 4 e . 4 4 4. + 4 + e s 4 + + e 4 t e e + e e e e + + + + + + + + + + 4- + + + + + + + + + + 4 4 + e e  !

A v.ilRe: L 4iI L : 3 :-Mm -W. U : : :.-

  • F W :'
  • 1 2... i 1. E !..'

8 F.k ST'1 T: P. ( L I VE. ) : &M M :: e '::LNS ) T I V )1 Y : 3. 2W$

i .. AI DE I' Ei.: AL 11ML : e-f +. 1i-

  • t HA' r F'AkAMElt;* : t. f k E.L Al ":st.U L.) VL'. liML. #. - .  :.
  • N t.; i 'iE Hi.1 4. c.: .

4

, 4 . . . . . . . . . . + 4 + + + < .- e e . . 4 4 - . < . < < e e < < * * * * * + = + < 4 s + . 4 . - < 4- + + +- < <

e

..i 1 E f. 0: 8 Ddti h
  • i )143'W-W
  • 14Ui L . C Hu -

. 4.. ) k lea c. . 07-AF r -5,  : (: s :i

  • h.NL b'.* ** 1 OL.EH AN'. h. : ).** .

. s- t ., . H 4 0, n i:' i

  • HA' F L]Il FM )D; .(.eN Ti. sr. i ; ii. 4" . : C : 7.V + A1: uni AN f. L 1 M1T :

6 . A W,.

4 4 + *

  • e-4 4-4
  • e 4 ** 4 *-* 6 4 4 9 4 es e 4 + f 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 e o 4 4-f $< 9 f 4 9 4 9+ + 4. t 4 6 + t t 4 e t & &

- ::.' ' C : ." . 8 .

  • 1 M t. : 23 late-;%"
4. t .1 *. Y s.lPF c;L. I1-)1  ; s? <f - - . I. w. ) T F EFii E.NT4'T. -

' . .i'l L.d 'f Hi. Fii 6F. U'. /(,r Lt g. O -- "f'*,

(;;n anvf,f 'C t 1 Cf M

. . . , v .: . ;-;I -c .. .

.t n l....;:e. 4, p.y.,, g -34, 7 ,+ .,

. :. s- . _ y_ , - , c. : .: -.; .

. ~ .7. A u <.,a, - ; ,

l

. - , i e o,e oo o o ooo oo oooses e oosooooo ooooo o oooos e s e s ooo oooosoooooseso s

. oooooooooooosos 1 4 - h A N - t:<.. e6:Pf:Pr cocoosespoooooooo- ,

so.oooo.......+++e4.e++++++,ee+++4e+.....eeeee.a.ee+e+4++<,,e . )

10PA2 A[T 3VITY St$'VEN

.hAMPLL 16 ATE : 14-MM-M 12: c:ee

.AMrit 3 l er t.'l l r I C.Al litt4: t.A*-4 TYFL 8'd SAMi ti.: 106 AI--IP t 'l

>AMI LE GNJAN111 Y: 1. D.* 11M.; t LilJi'It.: bRAM.

..AMi'LL (4 OMETRY: h,3 J r F IC IEtC \ F I LE NI.' . : E f f . 5 '; .:, .

a o o o oo o + ,4. , + + + + + + 6 i + + + + e e 4 + + o ,4 + 4 + < + < + > < *

  • e e e t e e 4 < + + t + 4 , m 4 4

'+CLit3 RL lea 1E : l'.i-hM -t::c. 2'e:: 4 3 : 2 c.

  • FWet*d j aht i 1 . B t.f.

'RE' SET T I ME. ( L IVE ) : 6N.'SE(

  • SE NviT IVI TY: 3. 2'.ici i
LAPh.ED REAL 11 ht. : e 00. Siit
  • SH(** E PAFAMETFR : 5. f */. l
.LAi;'yCD L IW. 1 I ML : 600. SE:(. + N1:R 1 TL HA1 i s.Wr.; I s. l i r o o o s. o- . + + , + + + , , , s * * , * * *
  • e e * * + . * * , + . +- * + . + + + + , e * . 4 . , + . . + . . . . + +

4

'i:1 E C 1 CC: RCHE.f'.

  • L Eh Ah : N A L. t 'HA'

.At. ) li Is ' L : i.7- AP* -k. 12 : G. . 6,6

  • L Nt: h'.1 'I a. ELE hAN J : ) 6,ihen :V )

E U / Lei . : C.. T c I t:tt

  • H.:4 8- L1Fl Fe(.11 Ci: 2 . f.si. I vFSET: e. * 36i N KE Y
  • ABt>NUAN~E LIMIT: tR. s.T* I
  • e.+o***+**me********+.e**.**,..+.+,+,+.....-**,++.,

a  :-

!12 LLY 8 iVGl<A". DAll: 2 2 -Jr f 4-E:d 2 A'.7 IVI T - Ur .:: .- Lih*;T 3 B C5P LIMIT PERCLk.7AC-E ISOTOPE HLFE Ut J.: <Ce. LICv Gr.  ::

E1ultse[, Wy#

'( -M 'ro. 691 1.83E-44 1.91E-fa 1. f.7"-0 3 16. f t.%

9N- t.4 312. 201.: 2.e4E-04 2. e.'X-f.4 3.eOE-03 26. 2E:';

Fil' = 4.tGE-f4 4. 4 ~:E-e4 1Cil AL r_ 44,34e.

e

- - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - . _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ - - _ _ . - - . - - - _ - . _ _ _ - - _ _ - _ . _ -

Retrieved from "https://kanterella.com/w/index.php?title=ML20236U593&oldid=3172340"