Uranium detection in solid radwastes with a CdZnTe spectrometric detector

A method of detecting uranium in solid radwastes on the basis of the characteristic radiation is described. As a rule, the characteristic radiation of uranium is excited by radiation contained in long-lived radionuclide wastes or internal fission products of irradiated fuel. In wastes stored for a long time, the main γ-emitters are 137 Cs and 60 Co. The method is based on separating in the spectrum of the experimental object the characteristic radiation lines of uranium in the low energy range ~ 100 keV. The criteria for uranium presence in the sample analyzed by non-destructive means are formulated. The method developed was tested during measurements of radioactive objects in the MR reactor and examination of spent nuclear fuel and radwaste storage facilities at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute.