Analysis: Measurement natural and artificial radionuclides
A complete laboratory, state of the art equipment, an efficient and competent team to perform all your analyses
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The laboratory adapts to customer needs to be able to receive and analyze all types of samples with more or less significant radionuclide activities. The laboratory can analyse different types of matrices: mineral and biological for the determination of radioactivity in the environment, the measurement of waste of all kinds from nuclear installations. This implies setting up methodologies for the preparation and processing of particular samples, thus making it possible to respond to each request.
Impurity analysis, reaching the detection limits requested by customers in loaded or active matrices are difficulties that the laboratory must be able to respond to.
The laboratory already routinely analyses radionuclides in environmental or specific matrices.
The preparation techniques, concentration by drying-calcining, purification by liquid-liquid or resin extraction are techniques that have been mastered for many years.
Separative radiochemistry, in particular for the analysis of beta emitting radionuclides or those to be measured by alpha spectrometry, are techniques that are controlled and carried out regularly.
During its development, the laboratory has been able to expand its equipment base with gamma spectrometry, proportional counters, alphas spectrometry chains, liquid scintillations and ICP-MS. Most of its equipment is equipped with sample changers for semi-automatic analysis of large quantities of samples.
The laboratory carries out standardised leaching tests and all the analyses required by the authorities for the determination of both physico-chemical and radioactive elements.
· Identification and quantification of natural and artificial radionuclides (alpha-beta-gamma emitters)
· Isotopic measurement and characterization of equilibrium states
· Analysis of liquid (aqueous or organic) or solid matrices (soil, rubble, biological, etc.)
· Response to specific customer needs
· Experimental laboratory for the analysis of radioactive samples
· Characterization according to ANDRA / SOCODEI specifications
The CIME laboratory has been accredited by COFRAC (NF EN ISO/IEC 17 025 standard - detailed scope available on the website www.cofrac.fr N°1-5873) since 1996 and is recognized in the Orano group for its skills.
The laboratory is approved by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) for environmental radioactivity measurements on about thirty approvals.
The laboratory has been characterizing aqueous, organic and solid waste for many years.
The laboratory carries out more than 20,000 radionuclide analyses per year for the needs of the Orano group and for nuclear players.
The laboratory adapts to all customer requests and has the necessary authorizations to receive radioactive samples.
The equipment develops specific analysis methods and quickly implements protocols for the analysis of large quantities of samples.
The laboratory regularly carries out waste characterizations in accordance with ANDRA and SOCODEI specifications.
The laboratory offers food chain analyses and performs calculations of the added annual effective dose.
Reading (not exhaustive) of the radionuclides routinely analysed:
- Uranium 238 and its isotopes
- Thorium 232 and its isotopes
- Radium 226 and 228
- Plutonium 238, 239+240
- Technetium 99
- Lead 210
- Polonium 210
- Carbon 14
- Tritium
- Strontium 90
- Potassium 40
- Alpha/beta global
- All gamma emitters
