Abstract:
In the present work a non destructive technique based on gamma spectrometry and application of the Monte Carlo method for detector efficiency calibration, was used to assay radioactive content waste drums. Monte Carlo simulation of the drum and detector configuration was carried out using MCNP-4C2 code and cross-section data from the ENDF-VI-b library. The code was used to perform numerical simulations taking into consideration the energy of the gamma ray emitter, the matrix material, the detector efficiency, the geometric configuration employed, the size of the drum, and the wall material and thickness of the drum. The results of MNCP simulations of a point source positioned at the geometrical centre of an air filled drum were calibrated against experimental measurements performed under the same conditions. Satisfactory agreement was observed by comparing the results of the non destructive method against analytical results of samples obtained from each drum.