RADIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF KIWI-TNT DEBRIS,
Abstract
Five samples of debris from the Kiwi-TNT event were studied for properties relating to biological hazard: particle properties, radiation properties, radio-chemical composition and radionuclide solubility. The samples examined were three cloud samples, one ground-filter sample and a fallout sample. The particles in the cloud and ground-filter samples were in the 10-100 micron size range and were mixed with varying amounts of extraneous material (desert dust). In the fallout sample, the bulk of the particles were irregularly shaped, although some spheroids were present. The particles were mainly graphite and the sizes ranged from several microns to several millimeters. Gross gamma decay rates exhibited negative logarithmic exponents ranging from 0.73 to 1.76. The gamma-ray spectra of the three cloud samples were similar, but otherwise significant differences were found from sample to sample. Radiochemical analysis showed that the ground-filter sample was highly enriched in volatilely behaving fission products (Sr89,90, I131, Te132, Cs137). The cloud samples were somewhat enriched in volatiles, but relatively representative. The fallout sample showed a depletion of volatiles. This depletion increased as the particle size diminished and as the particle shape became more spheroidal. The fractionation behavior was quite similar to that observed in weapon debris, as was the dependence of fractionation on particle shape. The dependence of fractionation on particle size in the fallout sample, however, was the opposite of that observed in weapon debris and indicates the operation of different fractionation mechanisms. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 28, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0646359
Entities
People
- E. C. Freiling
- G. R. Crocker
- J. D. O'connor
- J. N. Pascual
- J. R. Lai
Organizations
- Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory