Abstract
INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR SWIPE SAMPLES IN SAFEGUARDS
S. Shawky*
ABSTRACT
Possible candidates for swipes to be used for safeguards are investigated. In connection to nuclear forensics, results obtained from swipe samples at different nuclear facilities are used for attribution involving comparing data and analyses from the swipe to data and analyses from samples of identified sources. Three different candidates of swipes from commercial on-shelf origins were compared for their applicability. Two of them have chemically modified surfaces to improve their characteristics while the third is an untreated cotton pad. Swipes were investigated in a simulated equivalent environment of nuclear facility. The technique of dust free falling at altitude higher than 15 m was used. Stable isotopes La, As, Zn, Fe, Ni, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr, Cs and Rb in addition to thorium and uranium from reference material were used in the simulation experiment. Surfaces were characterized for their efficiencies using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scan Electron Microscope (FE-SEM).
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