Remote sensing of chemical agents within nuclear facilities using Raman spectroscopy

• Published in: Journal of Raman spectroscopy Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 2543 - 2551
• Main Authors: Foster, Michael, Wharton, Michael, Brooks, William, Goundry, Matthew, Warren, Charles, Storey, Jonathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Chemical agents; Hazardous materials; instrumentation; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear facilities; Radioactive materials; Raman spectroscopy; Remote sensing; Remotely operated vehicles; spatial heterodyne spectrometer; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; stand‐off Raman
• ISSN: 0377-0486; 1097-4555
• DOI: 10.1002/jrs.6016

The identification and characterisation of radioactive material and other hazardous substances are essential requirements for the nuclear industry. Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify substances; however, given the challenging nature of the environment, instruments typically cannot be located within 1 m of the target substance. A new stand‐off Raman instrument using a spatial heterodyne spectrometer mounted on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is presented, and its ability to identify a range of chemicals of interest to the industry is demonstrated within a representative environment. The instrument demonstrated an ability to routinely make Raman observations at 1 m from the target with all sensitive electronic elements situated remotely outside the target environment. Raman spectra have been acquired of a uranyl nitrate, tri‐butyl phosphate and kerosene, from within a representative nuclear facility. Demonstrating for the first time the ability to characterize chemical agents within this challenging environment in a same manner using Raman spectroscopy.