T _ | —j i ^

S. ^ *' . «
. ^l-i^
Nuclear Research Institute
REPORT of
ACTIVITIES
1986 -1990

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. PHAM DUY HI EN

Associate editors : TRAN HA ANH TON THAT CON

NGUYEN GIA VIET HOA
Photographs: NGUYEN BA MAU. BUI A
Layout <£ Printing : LIKSIN. HCM CITY
 1
• ' < • • » / • • ; . . . . : .

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
* FOREWORD 03

A. THE DALAT NUCLEAR RESEARCH REACTOR 05

B. REACTOR PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING 11
C. APPLIED NUCLEAR PHYSICS 17
D. NUCLEAR ELECTRONICS 33
E. RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY 39
F. RADIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 45
G. PRODUCTION OF RADIOISOTOPES AND 49
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
H. RADIATION TECHNOLOGY 57
I. RADIOBIOLOGY 65
J. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION 70
 FOREWORD
Prof. PHAM DUY HIEN
Chtiirmtni of .Xutionul Programme
tor Application of Atomic Energyt
Director
of Nuclear Research Institute.

The years 1986-1990 marked a period of significant progress to maturity of

the Nuclear Research Institute of Dalat. Three important tasks have been carried
out simultaneously : i) to build up suitable infrastructure and laboratories for full
exploitation of the newly reconstructed nuclear research reactor (put into
operation in 1984); ii) to develop practical applications of nuclear techniques
related to using the reactor and the Co-60 irradiator ; iii) to stimulate and to
support the establishment of nation-wide laboratories or centers for application
of radioisotopes and nuclear techniques. These efforts and activities were aimed at
adequate acceptance of nuclear techniques by society, in spite of present economic
difficulties, low level of national development and declining attractiveness of
nuclear science due to some serious nuclear accidents in the world.
The changes in socio-economic policy in Viet Nam have had a direct leverage
and positive effect on activities in the field of atomic energy. Nuclear techniques,
although still new and young, have been struggling for a solid place in society, not
relying on planning or orders from above, but on realistic socio-economic
usefulness, as really recognized by the users. At the same time, as a pioneer
research institution in the field, vested with the task to exploit the sole nuclear
research reactor in Viet Nam, the Dalat NRI has been making special effort in
carrying out selective basic research and building up potential strength for future
development.
 This Report illustrates partly the common effort of a community of scientists
and engineers, conscious of the assigned heavy responsibilities and eager to face
all challenges. It is a small present to those who have encouraged and supported
us in a concrete way, from responsible authorities and " customers" in Viet Nam,
to experts and friends of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other
countries with whom solid co-operative ties had been established.
We'also hope that this small booklet serve as an open-arm'invitation for
further co-operation, nationally and internationally, for the sake of" Atom For
Life, Atom For Peace".

Prof. PHAM DUY HI EN

Chainnan of National Programme for Application of Atomic Energy,
Director of Nuclear Research Institute.
 THE DALAT
NUCLEAR
RESEARCH
REACTOR

Dr. NGOQUANG HUY

Deputy Director.
Al. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. Raultir Manager

The present Dalat nuclear research reactor has been reconstructed from the left-over
infrastructure of the former American-made 250 kW TRIGA MARK. II reactor, which had
practically been turned into complete idleness since the totality of its fuel elements had been
removed and brought away in March 1975, at the height of the concluding phase of the
Vietnam war.
Reconstruction work of the new Soviet-designed 500 kW reactor was started in March
1982 and carried out at an accelerated rate, permitting the reactor to reach its first critical state
on Nov. 1st. 1983, culminating into its official inauguration on March 20th, 1984. Since then
up to the end of 1990. the reactor has recorded a total of 9270 operating hours mostlv at

Fig. A1. Front view of the reactor building.

nominal power, serving efficiently its primordial objectives: training, research, production of
radioisotopes, neutron activation analysis and other uses.

A2. REACTOR STRUCTURE.

* Remaining parts from former TRIGA Reactor:
Cylindrical water tank in aluminum (6.2 m in depth. 2 m in diameter).
Heavy concrete biological shielding.
Graphite reflector (56 cm H, 23.24 cm ID. 55.85 cm OD).
Thermal column and thermalizing column.
4 horizontal beam tubes (I tangential and 3 radial).
* New structural parts :
Reactoi" core with new fuel configuration.
Central neutron trap (6.5 cm in diameter).
Sucking well (0.5 m in diameter. 2 m in height) for increased convection flow.
Control system consisting of 7 control rods and 9 ion chambers.
Cooling system consisting of primary and secondary loops.

A3. REACTOR CHARACTERISTICS.

- Reactor type : pool type ; water-cooled, water-moderated.

Fig. A2. A view of the

reactor structure.
 - Nominal power : 500 k W thermal.
- Reactor core :
• Fuel elements : hexagonal; Soviet standard type VVR-M2, U-AI alloy, 36 "A>
U-235 enrichment.
• Core loading : 89 fuel elements (3576 g U-235).
• Volume of active core : 64.9 I (55.2 "A, water).

- Reactor control: 7 control rods (2 safety, 4 shim, I regulating) ; total rod north 17.5$.
- Excess reactivity : original: 9$ ; present: 5.7 S.
- Reflector : beryllium (25 kg) and former TRIG A graphite reflector.
• Thermal neutron flux at 500 kW :
• at central neutron trap : 2.1 x I01-1 ii.enr:.sml
• average in active core : 4.0 x JO1- n.cnr-.y1
• at rotary rack : 3.(1 x I()I: n.cm~-.y'

• Primary cooling loop :

• Flow rate : 50m3/h
• Water temperature at pool : T\n = 22 - 30"C

Neutron
trap

Be element

I r r ad. Ch an.

Fig. A3. Cross-sectional view of reactor core.

 FUIt usElffil* Of TUS

IS

I
I
it
?I
r
ig. A4. Reactor core uiih Fig. A5. h'uel clement
Chevenkox glow at 500 kW. type \\R-\12.

- Secondary cooling loop :

• Flow rate : 90 mVh
• Water temperature at heat exchanger : Tjn = 12 - 21"C
T, , = 17 - 26"C
A4. OTHER AUXILIARY FACILITIES.
- Nuclear salety and radiation protection systems, including a liquid waste processing
system handling activity up to 10"4 Ci/1, consisting of 4 processing tanks, each having 5 nv'
capacity.
- Cemetery for burial of radioactive liquid and solid wastes.

A5. EXPERIMENTAL AND IRRADIATION FACILITIES.

Central neutron trap having maximum thermal neutron flux equal to 2.1 x I011
n.cm"2.s"'
2 in-core pneumatic transfer irradiation channels for INAA and delay neutron
activation analysis.
40-position rotary rack placed inside the graphite reflector, for radioisotope
production.
 Thermal column with fast irradiation facility for INAA of short-lived isotopes.
Tangential beam tube No. 3 using silicon liltcr, providing thermal neutron flux
of 2.3 x l()(l n.enr-.s"1. for neutron radiography and prompt gamma neutron activation
analysis.
Piercing beam tube No. 4 using various neutron filter (B, Si, S, Ti,...) providing
quasi-monochromatic keV-range neutron beam for investigation on nuclear data measure-
ments.

\6. REACTOR OPERATION AND EXPLOITATION.

Until recently, once every 4 weeks, the reactor has been operated continuously for 100
hours for radioisotope production, neutron activation analysis and other associated
experiments. The remaining time was for maintenance and repair of all technical supporting
equipment together with I to 2-day reactor operation in answer to other experimental needs.
Starting from August 1990. due to large demand for radioisotopes. the reactor operating cycle
has been reduced to 3 weeks.
The reactor has been extensively used for :
Research on fabricating procedure and production of radioisotopes.
Neutron activation analysis (service and research).

i-'isi. A(>. Reactor control room.

 Exploitation of horizontal beam tubes.
Use of gamma radiation in the central neutron trap (dose rale 0.5 to 1 Mrad/h) after
reactor shutdown. An example of use is for irradiation of loom shuttles.
Research & Development in reactor physics and engineering.
Training of personnel.
Other applications: silicon doping: fabrication of XRF excitation source (Ge-71):

o
00

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

Total operation time (h)

Radioisotooes produced (Ci)
Samples irradiated for activation analysis

A7. Total annual reactor operation time, nutioisotopes produced ami

irradiated samples during the period IVX4-IW0

10
 REACTOR PHYSICS
AND ENGINEERING

Bl. OBJECTIVES
Since the reactor is a unique prototype, a product of Soviet technology coupled to
American left-over infrastructure, it was required to perform the necessary physical
experiments to determine all essential reactor characteristics, related to the following research
activities :
- Reactor statics and kinetics studies.
- Reactor thermohydraulics studies.
- Nuclear safely.
- Reactor control instrumentation.

B2. REACTOR STATICS AND KINETICS

From the beginning, a research programme has been set up to obtain all essential reactor
parameters and characteristics related to normal operating conditions or accidental
circumstances. The following activities have been carried out:
Determination of thermal neutron flux distribution in the active core, along the vertical
and radial directions.
- Measurement of control rod reactivities (effective total and differential values), and
evaluation of their mutual interference.
- Two important reactor control parameters have also been determined, comprising the
time response (of period or power level circuits) from simulated accidents, and free fall time of
the control rods into the core.
- The temperature coefficient of the reactivity has been measured, applying the
compensation method to the regulating rod AR.

II
 - Equilibrium Xenon poisoning has been determined after 60 hours continuous operation
at 500 kW.
- The delay photoneutron effect has also been studied and evaluated. The presence of a
rather large quantity of Be in the core increases markedly {$ eff value, and produces, thanks to
(gamma, n ) reaction, a lasting neutron source strong enough for starting up 'he reactor again
after each shutdown.
- Careful studies of reactor response to sudden insertion of various positive reactivities
have been carried out. It was determined that the maximum permissible positive reactivity for
the reactor to attain the stationary level of 500 kW from its initial level of 0.1 kW within a few
minutes was 0.4 Pelf (1). This value is much less than the case of the former TRIGA MARK
II, due to special characteristics of TRIGA fuel. This problem has also been studied
theoretically, considering the special case where some of the control rods happen to move
upwards in an uncontrollable manner.
Some significant reactor physics data obtained are presented in Table B.I.

Table B.I. Experimental reactor physics data.

1. Neutron flux distribution data :

Parameter Vertically Radially

- Non-uniform factor of
heat generation 1.32 + 0.01 1.77 ± 0.01
- Laplacian B (1/m-) 16.6 ± 0.6 84 .6 + 0.6
- Effective dimension (cm) 77.0 ± 0.1 27 .6 ± 0.1

2. Control rod worth :

- 2 safety rods : 5 .51 $
- 4 shim rods : 11 .51 $
- regulating rod 0.46$
3. Free fall time of control rod : less than 1 sec.
4. Temperature coefficient of reactivity : - 1.2 x 10"2 $/°C
5. Xenon poisoning : - 1.6 $
B3. REACTOR THERMOHYDRAULICS
Theoretical calculations on the basis of core loading with 94 fuel elements and reactor
operated at 500 kW showed that the highest fuel surface temperature was 98 °C while the
minimal surface boiling point was determined to be 116 °C.
Careful measurement of fuel surface temperature is of important significance both with
respect to nuclear safety consideration an^ for prospective reactor power upgrading studies.
The measurement made use of a special fuel element incorporated with 9 chromel-coppel
thermocouples, as shown in Fig. Bl. The locally designed and constructed electronic
measuring system consists of an analog processing part (amplifier + ADC) interfaced with a
PC/AT computer.

12
 Fig. B2 shows the typical lengthwise surface temperature distribution of the fuel element
placed at one of the hottest positions (cell 9-6) close to the neutron trap, the reactor being
operated at 500 kW. The experimental results, as actually measured, agreed well with
theoretical calculations.

On the whole, fuel surface tempe-

rature as well as water temperature
distributions in the active core have
been determined, along the vertical
direction and radially, following va-
rious reactor operating conditions
(power level, relative positions of the 4 FUEL ASSEMBLY WZTH THERMOCOUPLES
shim rods, etc.). The experimental K m KEASUXZKEHT Or CUDDIBG
KMEHA.TORE3
results generally agreed with design
calculations. •

Within the framework of a re-

search contract (No. 5178/RB) with
the IAEA and a co-operation project
with the Institute of Mechanics (belon-
ging to the Vietnam Institute of
Sciences), a mathematical model of
reactor thermo hydraulics has been
worked out permitting theoretical deter-
mination of essential thermohydraulic
parameters.

B4. SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT

(SAR)

Following a Research Contract Fig. Bl. Fuel element incorporated

(No. 4967/RB) with the IAEA, a SAR with thermocouples
has been prepared in line with IAEA
guidelines and regulation (2). The
following aspects of nuclear safety have been taken into account: (3)
- Although the reconstructed reactor is operated at 500 kW nominal power (twice the
power of the former TRIGA MARK II), reactor cooling is still assured by natural convection
of water, the effect being boosted up somewhat with the help of the sucking well placed above
the reactor core. This cooling mechanism proved to be efficient in the safety point of
view.
- The reactor has a rather large excess reactivity. Besides, due to its small negative
temperature coefficient in comparison with that of TRIGA, the reactor requires a much more
complex control system with higher reliability.

13
 - Reactor maintenance work must
assure proper working condition of the
reactor at all times, although often
faced with the problem of non-avai-
lability of spare parts.

- Special attention must be paid to

the fact that the new reactor relies on
the aged structural components of the
former TRIGA, of critical importance
being the reactor tank and the horizon-
60
tal beam tubes. Recent inspection by DISJHIBUTIOH OP CLADDING IEltfESATUr.3
TS HSICHI 0 ? COM AT REACTCR PCSES 5CCCT:
telescope has discovered marked places
O THEORETICAL
of corrosion, cause for concern. Fig. B3 • EXfEIUKi.'iTAL

shows the telescope at work.

- Consequential evaluation of re-

actor hypothetical accidents called
attention to the following situations :
• Accidental insertion of a posi-
Fig. B2, Fuel surface temperature distribution
tive reactivity greater than 1$.
• Loss of water in the primary
cooling loop : reactor safety condition
is still adequate provided that normal emergency protection mechanisms are working
properly.
• Loss of water from the pool, possibly through a leak in one of the beam tubes.
- Routine monitoring of reactor water to detect early failure of fuel cladding.

B5. PROBABILISTIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT (PSA)

Within the framework of a coordinated research programme (CRP) with the IAEA tu
collect data for research reactor PSA, the following activities have been put for-
ward (4):
- Practical procedure for data collection and further data processing ;
- Evaluation of primary data and determination of reliability parameters.
Two computer programmes have been developed to serve the following purposes:
h -:-'
- To compile a list of data on equipment/system condition and defective
parls/equipment/system.
- Evaluation of the reliability parameters

14
 The compilation of data for the
period from 1984 to 1990 is currently
under way, to be finished in 1991, and
made ready for PSA evaluation of the
Dalat reactor. This evaluation never-
theless could be proceeded parallelly
(by sketching the event tree for the
reactor and the fault tree for some
systems of importance to safety) to be
finished after 1991.

B6. REACTOR PROTOCOL

Fig. B3. Inspection of reactor tank hy telescope
SYSTEM
The locally designed and construc-
ted REPROS-DALAT (Dalat Reactor
Protocol System) is used to register all
instant reactor parameters (power,
period, logic states of the control
system as well as other technological
parameters like primary and secondary
loops flow rate, tank water level, water
temperature at some chosen locations •
in the lank....) as well as for thermohy-
draulic and reactor physics experi-
ments. REPROS-DALAT is a PC/AT-
based system built in modular Euro-

card standard (see Fig. B4). The system bus consists of 12 data lines, 3-5 crated address lines. 5
LAM lines. 5 sub-address lines and 7 control lines.
The system can be expanded for more crates as needed. On a given crate there can be such
modules as 1 to 2 ADC's, 1 counter, I register assembly and I computer interface. The 12 bit
ADC module accepts input signals successively from 32 input channels by scanning. The
register assembly module permits registration of logic states from 32 points. The counter
module can count TTL signals from 9 inputs, counting time presetable from 0.01 s to 1000 s by
the computer. The system software was written in Quick-Basic and Assembly languages,
permitting data registration either by successive scanning or by quick selection of required
parameters. The use of this system assures a higher degree of protection and safety for reactor
operation.

REFERENCES:

(I) Tran Khac An, Nguyen Nhi Dien, Pham Duy Hien, Ngo Quang Huy, Vu Hai Long, Tran

15
 Khanh Mai, Nguyen Dang Nhuan. Huynh Dong Phuong. Ha Van Thong. Luong Ba Vien.
Le Vinh Vinh, N.V. Arkhangelski, E.M. Kuznhesov, A.X. Tcrcnkhov, A.P. Prophimov.
" Kinetic characteristics of the Nuclear Reactor of the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute".
Preprint DNRI. E009-89. 1989.

(2) The Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor Safety Analysis Report. Final Report of IAEA
Research Contract No 4967/RB. Dalat. 1990.

(3) Tran Ha Anh. Pham Van Lam. Ngo Phu Khang. Tran Khae An. Duong Quang Tan.
Some safety lessons from 5 year-operation of the renovated Dalat nuclear research
reactor.
IAEA/SM/310-78.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on research reactor operation, safety and
modifications Chalk River. 10/1989. Canada.

(4) Progress report of research contract No. 5757/RB presented at 2nd IAEA Research
Co-ordinated Meeting on " Data Acquisition for PSA of Research Reactors". Beijing.
China. 8-12,10/1990.

Fi«. B4.77;<< REPROS-DALAT system

 APPLIED
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Cl. OBJECTIVES
- R & D of nuclear analytical techniques: INAA, XRFA, DNAA.
- Experimental exploitation of reactor horizontal beam tubes : neutron radiography,
prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, nuclear spectroscopy and nuclear reaction
studies.
- Others : X-ray diffractometry, tracer techniques, etc.

C2. SUPPORTING WORK FOR NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

* DETERMINATION OF NEUTRON FLUX AND SPECTRUM PARAMETERS AT
VARIOUS IRRADIATION LOCATIONS IN THE REACTOR. (1)
The distributions of thermal neutron flux following the radial and vertical directions in
the active core as well as the Cd (Au) ratio have been determined by foil activation
method.

n/(c»,2.s.*V) P:S0 kW
•| i i I i i i I I I
13
10 n/(cm2.s.NeV) kW
o Neutron trap
Active reqion
12 Rotary rack
10
o Neutron trap
a Active region
11 Rotarv rack
10
1
10

8
I I I I I I I I
- 5 -A - 3 - 2 - 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 61 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 111] 12 13 H
InE ( . V ) E(MeV)
Fig. Cl. Energy distribution of Fig. C2. Energy distribution of fast
thermal and epithermal neutrons. neutron.
 Fast and epithermal spectra have been determined by threshold and resonance foil
detectors using Express and Sand II processing software.
Experimental results are shown in Figs. Cl and C2.
* DETERMINATION OF k 0 (Au) FACTORS USED IN MULTI-ELEMENTAL
ANALYSIS STANDARDIZATION.
Single-element samples have been activated at the reactor thermal column (where the
thermal neutron flux is 5.5 x 109 n.cnv2.s'' and cadmium ratio R Cd (Au) = 194) to determine
the corresponding k o (Au) factor. Since the thermal flux is quasi-pure, this measurement
resulted in a minimal error, thanks to the exclusion of uncertainties in neutron flux, neutron
spectrum and associated nuclear parameters.
ko-factors for more than 20 elements have been determined which agreed with published
data (2). In addition, kG-factors for 10 short-lived isotopes have also been determined for the
first time, purposedly for standardization of short-lived nuclide analytical techniques (see
Table C.I). (3)
Table C.I. ko-factors of some short-lived nuclides (T 1 / 2 <lmin)

Nuclide T l / 2 (s) E (keV) ko (cal.) k 0 (exp.) + %

1 F-20 11.0 1634 1.06 x io- 3 0.95 x 10-3 2

2 Cl-38m 0.715 .671.3 6.72 x io- 4 6.71 x io- 4 8
3 Sc-46m 18.72 142.5 0.283 0.223 4
4 Se-77m 17.38 161.9 2.75 x io- 2 2.63 x io-
2
5
5. Rh-104 42.8 555.8 5.49 x io- 2 5.60 x io-
2
2
6 Pd-IO7m 21.3 214.0 4.75 x io- 5 4.98 x io- 5 3
7 Ag-110 24.42 657.8 3.63 x io- 2 3.74 x io- 2 2
8 Ce-I39m 56.44 754.4 5.26 x iO" 7 5.90 < io- 7 3
9 EM 67m 2.28 207.8 2.61 x io- 2 2.32 x io- 2 3
10 Hf-179m 18.67 214 0.160 0.133 3
11 Dy-165m 75.4 515.5 8.85 x 10"2 9.58 x io- 2 5

C3. INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS.

* INAA FACILITIES.
. The irradiation facilities and their characteristics are as shown in Table C.II

* RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN INAA. (4)

- Determination of neutron flux distribution at various irradiation locations, stability in

18
time of neutron flux and spectrum parameters, and influence of neutron masking phenomenon
due to existence of samples at irradiations locations.
- Application of ^-standardization method in multi-elemental neutron activation
analysis.
- Adaptation of PC-based spectrum processing programmes like GAM MAW, SPAN to
requirements of multi-elemental activation analysis.
Table C.II. Irradiation facilities and their characteristics.
1
Irradiation locations
Characteristics
Pos. 7-1 Pos. 13-2 Reflector Therm, column

Thermal neutron flux 2 x 1012 2 x 1012 4 x 1012 5.5 x 109

(n.cm"2.s"')
Cadmium ratio 2.1 2.2 3.0 194
Rabbit size (mm) D16*80 D16*80 D26*150
Sample transfer Pneumatic Pneumatic Mechanical Pneumatic
Transfer time (s) 2 <1 1
Uses INAA, RNAA INAA, RNAA INAA. RNAA, Short-lived
Isotope Prod. Isotope INAA
Measuring equipment HPGe, HPGe. HPGe, HPGe.
CAMAC/PC-AT Canberra-35 PC/AT n. counting
MCA system

- Determination of relative concentration

of Ar. Kr, Hg... gases in fluorescent lamps
fabricated by various manufacturers by INAA
method.
- Determination of U and Th content in
natural radioactive ores by delay neutron
counting method. The detector assembly con-
sists of 6 He-3 counters and is connected to a
computer-based automatic control and measu-
ring system which assures high sensitivity and
counting efficiency. The sensitivity of analysis
attains 1 ppm for U and 10 ppm for Th.
- Irradiation facilities are also provided at
the thermal columns, using a fast pneumatic
transfer system (1 ± 0.1 sec transfer time),
permitting analysis of short-lived isotopes. The
Dr. NGUYEN TAC ANH
results obtained are based on the ko-standardi-
Head, Applied Nuclear
Physics Department.

19
zation method, using ko-"actors as shown in Table C.I.
Both analytical systems are interlaced to the same PC/AT computer for automatic
control and processing as shown in Fig. C3.
- Investigation on trace element content in the hair of Vietnamese as compared with
corresponding published data. Typical results are presented in Table C.III.
- Investigatory work on the determination of toxic and heavy metal elements in aerosols
and rain water in the industrial area of Ho Chi Minh City in comparison with other
non-contaminated areas. This work has been carried out within the framework of an IAEA
Coordinated Research Project.

Table C.III. Trace element content of Vietnamese human hair as compared with
literature data (content is in ppm).

Countries
Element
Vietnam Malaysia Pakistan USA Japan

As N.A 0.28 0.17 0.13 0.08

Br 6.88 3.77 N.A N.A 7.2
Co 0.14 0.05 0.18 0.03 0.04
Cr 1.39 1.08 1.01 1.5 0.56
Fe 105. 65.18 41.4 30. 28.
Hg 0.26 2.97 1.23 1.8 3.8
Sb 0.31 0.26 0.12 0.17 0.07
Se N.A 0.45 0.99 1.15 0.7
Zn 137. 138. 244. 164. 176.

* INAA ROUTINE AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES

- Analysis of geological samples for prospection and evaluation of natural mineral
resources:
• More than 6000 auriferous samples have been analyzed, yielding more than 16,000
significant elemental data. Optimal sensitivity attained was 0.01 ppm for Au. Accuracy range
was 5-15%.
• Sulfurous and quartz minerals of Lam Dong highland province contain gold from I to
100 ppm ; suifurous minerals of Quang Nam - Da Nang are found to contain Au. Sb.
Mn... ;Au-Sb minerals are found in Bac-Bo area (North Vietnam).

20
 iAZINE

THE WJTOflATIC STSTEtt OF RAPID 1N8TRUNENTAL NEUTRON A C T I M T I W ANALYSIS

AND DELATED NEUTRON COUNTING ON DtLAT NUCLEAR REACTOR

Fig. C3. Rapid INAA and delay neutron counting systems.

- Analysis of U, Th, K, and determination of clay content by X-ray diffraction of kern

samples obtained from well logging of Vietnam continental shelf for oil prospection.
- Determination of trace elements such as V, Ni,... in crude oil samples taken from
Vietnamese oil wells.
- Determination of toxic elements and heavy metals possibly present in foodstuff for
export certification. Some typical results are shown in Table CIV.
Table CIV. Trace elements found in foodstuffs (content in ppm).

Type of foodstuffs
Element
DIELAC powdered milk Canned pine-apple Pork for export
for export

Cr 0.45 ± 0.05 0.07 ± 0.02 0.7 ± 0.1

Hg 0.003 ± 0.002 0.06 ± 0.01 0.07 ± 0.02
Cu 0.05 ± 0.02 2.3 ± 0.3 1.7 ± 0.3
Sb 0.002 ± 0.001 0.14 ± 0.05 0.02 ± 0.01
Zn 45. ± 5 5. ± 1 30. ± 5
Pb <0.22 - -
Sn 0.13 ± 0.05 1.0 ± 0.3 -

21
 - Acquisition and analysis of foreign and international standard samples for routine
check of the accuracy of analytical methods and for building up a collection of standards for
quantitative analysis. This enables us to prepare a set of geological standard samples, each
weighing 2 kg, containing Au, Ag in various proportions. The gold content is from I ppm to
100 ppm.
C4. X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS (XRFA).
* XRF FACILITIES :
• Excitation sources:
- Am-24I (30 mCi and 130 mCi)
- Ge-71 produced locally (about 30 mCi) -
- X-Ray generator (SIEMENS), 50kV-40mA
• Semiconductor detectors:
- Si (Li) detector, resolution 160 eV at 5.9 keV
- HPGe planar detector, energy range 1-200 keV, resolution 180 eV at 5.9 keV.
• Equipment: PC/AT-based spectrometer systems for analysis.
* RESEARCH AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES : (5)
-Fabrication and routine utilization of Ge-71 excitation source for XRF analysis of
elements ranging from Si to Cu. The results of elemental analysis of crude oil and spirulina
algae samples are shown as an example in Table C.V.
II
Table C.V. Elemental content (in ppm) in crude oil and spirulina algae samples as found
in Vietnam.

Content (ppm)
No. Element
Crude oil from Spirulina algae
Bach Ho well from Thuan Hai

1 S 850 ± 80 2120 ± 110

2 Ca 45 ± 6 3670 ± 140
3 Ti 1.5 ± 0.5 -
4 K - 9230 ± 800
V 0.9 + 0.4 -
6 Fe 3.9 ± 0.5 640 ± 90
7 Mn 97 ± 14
8 Co 1.3 ± 0.4 -
9 Ni 13 ± 1 7 ± 4
10 Cu 0.7 ± 0.3 -

22
 Fig. C4 shows an XRF spectrum of Vung Tau crude oil using a Ge-71 excitation
source
- Research on the determination of the purity of gold used as jewelry or as bank reserve.
The purity of gold is determined in terms of the content of Ag, Cu,... impurities. The accuracy
of the method attains 0.04% for 24K. gold. An XRF spectrometer system has been installed
and operated routinely at a bank in Ho Chi Minh City. Two similar computer-based XRF
systems are under construction and will be used at 2 other national bank branches. Figs. C5
and C6 show the difference between XRF spectra of I8K and 24K. gold samples.
- An XRF system using X-Ray generator and total reflection goniometer is currently
under installation.

C5. X-RAY DIFFRACTION

The X-Ray diffraction laboratory is equipped with a model HZG-4'diffractometer. This
instrument has answered to the following research purposes :
- Phase structure study of the aluminum-alloy cladding surface of the fuel elements. The
cladding used to be oxidized right after insertion of the fuel elements in the active core while
performing criticality experiments.
- Analysis of geological samples, especially aluminum silicate, and those from oil
prospection logging.
- Structural studies of inorganic ion-exchangers used in Mo-Tc-99m generator
production.

C6. PROMPT GAMMA NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS (PGNAA). (6)

* FACILITIES :
Neutron filtering facilities have been installed at the reactor tangential beam port,
consisting of a single-crystal silicon filter which increased markedly the thermal-to-fast
neutron ratio. Fig. C7 shows the sectional view of the neutron beam filter facilities. Fig. C8
shows the variation of thermal neutron parameters (output neutron flux and cadmium ratio)
versus silicon filter length.
The optimal filter length for (n,Y) analysis method has been determined to be
34.4 cm.
The spectrometer system consists of a horizontal-type HPGe detector of 67 cc coupled to
a PC/AT-based MCA.

* RESULTS.
The PGNAA method has proved to be an important supplement to such current
analytical methods as INAA, RNAA, XRFA,... especially when dealing with problems of

23
 DAUTHO GE- T»501^542 UFS-512
Ni

AT

•'. •

'-•'*•«/

511
Fig. C4. A'/JF spectrum of Vung Tau crude oil.

analyzing light elements, boron in soil and plants, Gd, Sm in rare-earth ores and rare-earth
sub-products, yellow cake, etc.
A typical prompt gamma spectrum from (n, Y) reaction is shown in Fig. C9.
Table C.VI presents a list of elements suitable for PGNAA method, with their
corresponding limits of detection.

GE-HP1E) T»l

Fig. C5. XRF .spectrum of 18K gold sample, using Am-241 excitation source.

24
 HP24 UFS«4B£»6

Au

AU

Jl fffr* **w^^v^^»^w

10 265
Fig. C6. XRF spectrum of 24K gold sample, using Ani-241 excitation source.

Table C.VI. Elements suitable for PGNAA method

Elements % Sensitivity

B. Cd. Gd, Sm 0.0001 - 0.0004

Cl. Nd, In, Mn 0.02 - 0.04
H. Na. V. Ti, Co. Cr, Ba 0.006 -0.6
Al. Ca. Fe. Ni. Si. Zn. S. Cu,... 0.06 - 0.2
N. P. Mg, Sn. Pb 5.0 - 9.0

C7. NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY. (6)

The thermal neutron beam from the horizontal tangential beam port with single-crystal
silicon filter has been used for neutron radiography.
Fig. CIO shows the sharpness and uniform distribution in intensity of the thermal neutron
beam, suitable for neutron radiography. The distribution was determined by activation of a
Dy wire. Figs. Cl I lo C12 show some typical radiographs.

C8. USE OF NEUTRON BEAM FOR NUCLEAR REACTION STUDIES.

A silicon filter (98 cm long) assembly, with possibility for insertion of additional filters
like B, Ti, S,.... has recently been installed in the reactor piercing beam port No.4, permitting

25
 UM

LEAP > ^ 1 HEAVY BORATED CONCRETE

GRAPHITE SINGLE rRYSTAL OF SILICON

H^'ifl BORA1ED PARAFFIN

Tig. C7. Sectional view of the experimental neutron beam port with neutron filter.

Fig. C8. Variation

of output thermal
neutron flux and cad-
mium ratio \s filter
ICKNtSS OF SILICON FILTER ( CH
length.

transmission of thermal as well as 54 keV and 144 keV neutrons. A recoil proton proportional
counter type SNM-38 was used to determine the filtered beam spectrum. Fig. C13 shows the
total energy spectrum, consisting of a 764 keV peak due to (n,p) reaction on He-3 (for
reference energy) and the lower energy part due to 54 keV and 144 keV neutrons. Fig. CI4
shows the neutron beam differential spectrum after further processing from the total energy
spectrum, providing clearly-defined neutron energy peaks. The quasi-monochromatic neutron
fluxes and corresponding peak resolutions are as following :

•Thermal : 0 (th) = 1.79 x 107n/n.cm"2.s-'

•54keV : 0(54) = 4 x 106n/n.cm-2.s-' AE = 8 keV
•144keV : 0(144)= 1.2 x 107n/n.cm-2.s"' AE = 22.1 keV

26
 Fig. C9. A prompt
gamma spectrum of
a rock sample.

The use of additional filters like B (0.4 cm B4C), Ti (10 cm), S (50 g/cm 2 ) could provide a
single-line neutron energy spectrum. Other types of filters using Sc, Al, Fe and S permitting
transmission of 2, 24 and 75 keV neutrons will expectedly be installed in the near
future.
Fig. C15 shows the experimental set-up, with filter assembly, at the piercing beam port
No.4, to be completed shortly, making use of an anti-compton spectrometer consisting of a
HPGe detector of 90 cc sensitive volume, surrounded by 3 large-size Nal (Tl) detectors
(dimensions 200 x 160 mm) and measuring and timing channels connected to a
computer-based MCA. This experimental set-up is aimed at (n,Y) reaction spectrometry
studies and determination of neutron total and partial cross-sections.
This is a joint research programme being carried out with the Kiev Nuclear Research
Institute. USSR.
The block diagram of the original pair spectrometer system (to be converted into an
anti-compton spectrometry system) is as shown in Fig. C16. All the electronic modules in NIM
standard required for the system are designed and constructed by the Nuclear Electronics
Department.

C9. SILICON DOPING.

In co-operation with the Hanoi semiconductor component factory, a number of silicon
mono-crystals supplied by this factory have been irradiated at the reactor central neutron trap.
Proper neutron distribution in this central channel of 60 mm diameter and suitable cadmium
ratio have resulted in irradiated product of good quality, appropriate for fabrication of power
diodes and thyristors. Silicon doping by neutron in the reactor has proved to be better.

27
 Thermal neutron hoam intonsitvfin relative unit!

o.a

0.6

0.4

0.2

L.
Distance from the axis of neutron bfiam

-'in. CIO. Neutron beam flux distribution.

Fig. C11. Spark plug. Fig. C12. Electrical switch with fuse.

technically and economically, than the conventional method of doping during the process of
crystal growing.
Fig. C17 shows the variations in resistivity and Fig. C18 illustrates a comparison between
the two doping technologies
CIO. APPLICATION Ol TRACER TECHNIQUES.
The Tracer Group of Dalai NRI has used Ba-131 as tracer to determine the optimal
mixing time of a rotary mixer to obtain a homogeneous raw material mixture intended for
glass making al the Dien Quang electric lamp company in Ho Chi Minh City. This new
method has increased the homogeneity of glass tube product by about 20%, and was thereby
adopted by the company to produce glass tubes for medical uses.
Preliminary work has also begun in applying tracer techniques to study the development
of sediment and bed-load transport in the ports, river estuaries and water reservoirs of
Vietnam. This rather large-scale venture has recently been supported by the IAEA through a
technical assistance project and by the National Programme for Peaceful Use of Atomic
Enerev.

28
Recoil proton spectrum
due to 54 keV neutron

Recoil proton spectrum 764 keV from

He3(n,p)H3
due to 144 keV neutron

^- A
Fig. C13. Total energy spectrum from recoil proton detector.

Fig. CI4. Neutron beam differential spectrum.

29
 d«t»eton aaambly T O P
ant I — e o m p t o n •p•ctrom*T•P

• I .ad
LsJ h e a v y concrete
UJ borated paraffin
tixrolIr•
LJ HOOIJ

fIIttr
El p o r o f f lr, + H6Ll

Fig. C15. Experimental set-up at the piercing beam port for nuclear reaction slmlies.

REFERENCES:

(1) Pham Duy Hien.

Proceedings of the First Asian Symposium on Research Reactor ASRR-I. Rykkyo
University, Tokyo, Nov. 1986.
(2) Pham Duy Hien, Tran Khanh Mai, Tran Xuan Quang, Tran Nhu Thuy.
J. Radioanal. and Nucl. Chem. 105/6/, 351, 1986.
(3) Pham Duy Hien, Tran Khanh Mai, Tran Xuan Quang, Tran Nhu Thuy.
J. Radioanal. and Nucl. Chem. 1991.
(4) Pham Duy Hien.
International Workshop on Activation Analysis, Dubna, USSR, August. 1988.
(5) Pham Duy Hien, Nguyen Tac Anh, Do Thanh Thao, Tran Truong.
J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chemistry (Letters) 118,/3/, 217. 1987.
(6) Luong Ngoc Chau, Pham Duy Hien, Ngo Tarn Anh.
2nd Asean Symposium on Research Reactors, 22-26 May, 1989. Jakarta, Indonesia.

30
 SD - PA
< •
SA —> TSCA

HV FFA —* CFD —• ND
r
i
SA -

t 1 r
X
PC
•V4J
HP-G. PA FFA CFD >• FC sc LG ADC/
DET. MCA
t-
HV PULSER FFA CFD —1 ND
TAC
-fir*
3D PA SA TSCA

SD - NaMTl) Detector FFA - Fast Filter Amplifier

PA - Pre-Amplifier SCA - Single Channel Analyzer
ND - Nanosec Delay HV - High Voltage Power Supply
FC - Fast Coincidence MCA - Multichannel Analyzer
SC - Slow Coincidence SA - Spectroscopy Amplifier
PC - Personal Computer TAC - Time-to-Amplitude Converter
LG - Linear Gate CFD - Constant Fraction Discriminator
TSCA - Timing SCA ADC - Analog-to-Digital Converter

i.V;>
Fig. C16. Block diagram of the pair spectrometer system.

0 1.0 2.0 mm

Fig. C17. Variations in resistivity of doped silicon.

31
 6 8 10 12 14 X 100V

Fig. CI8. Comparison between the two doping technologies.

32
 NUCLEAR
.L.L.LC 1 KOJNICS Mr. TON THAT CON
Head, Nuclear
Electronics Dept.

Dl. OBJECTIVES
- Capability for optimal maintenance work (preventive and corrective) of all types ol
electronic equipment, especially nuclear.
- National capability for design and construction of nuclear electronic instruments
serving research and application purposes. Emphasis is put on construction of:
• instruments for nuclear medicine
• computer-based nuclear spectrometers for analytical needs.
- Training of staff: on-the-job anJ overseas in main electronic disciplines.

D2. MAINTENANCE WORK.

Complete self-reliance in expertise to take care of a wide range and spectrum of electronic
equipment (conventional and especially nuclear), from the simple types to the most modern
and sophisticated instruments.
Except for the control instrumentation taken care of by the reactor instrumentation
group belonging to the Reactor Dept., maintenance work has been assured by the Nuclear
Electronics Dept. for all other electronic instruments totalling around 350 units, which
comprise :
- Various types of SCA's, MCA's and computer-based nuclear spectrometers using
scintillation or semi-conductor detectors, etc.
- Various types of dosimeters and radiation monitoring equipment;
- Electronic functional units or modules (in NIM, Eurocard standards and others):
- Electronic test instruments ;

33
 Fig. Dl.
Repair of an MCA.

- Various types of desk computers;

- Others.
Maintenance work has also been provided for outside institutions, mostly hospitals.
D3. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS.
Within the framework of the National 5-year Project 50A-04-01 " Experimental Design
and Construction of Nuclear Electronic Equipment" (1986- 1990), it has been possible to
make full use of IAEA support during this period through 2 successive assistance projects
namely VIE/4/003 " Nuclear Instrumentation" (1983 - 1987) and VIE/4/009 " Design and
Production of Nuclear Instruments" (1989 - 1991). The IAEA Projects have effectively helped
the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute in creating solid infrastructure and favorable conditions,
especially materialized by the supply of test instruments, desk computers, some workshop
equipment and much needed electronic components, for carrying out design and construction
work of instruments of practical uses. The various accomplishments are as follows:

* INSTRUMENTS FOR NUCLEAR MEDICINE, RADIATION PROTECTION,

GEOLOGY AND OTHERS.
- Dual-channel renographs using Nal(Tl) detectors (4 earlier sets complete with
mechanical stand plus collimators and strip-chart recorder ; the latest one was an
Apple-2-based renograph providing hard-copy of uptake curves on matrix printer) have been
supplied to 5 hospitals country-wide. A typical renograph is as shown in Fig. D2.
- IAEA-designed/Dalat-assembled SCA"s in Eurocard standard for 7 hospitals and other
uses.
- Various types of beta-gamma threshold counters and preset-alarm dosimeters for
hospitals (9 units).

34
Fig. D2. A dual-channel
renograp/i at work at
Khanh Hoa Hospital.

- A renovated prototype of an original soviet-made area radiation monitor UIM-2 has

recently been achieved. This new version is to be produced in quantity (2 dozen) in 1991 in
replacement of the troublesome (high breakdown frequency) originals.
-pP-based 4-channel (3 differential and 1 integral) gamma-spectrometer for natural
radioactive ore measurement (laboratory version) permitting automatic determination of LJ.
Th and K. content in p'pm (once calibrated with standard sources). A portable version of this
instrument will be finished early in 1991.
- Portable SCA instrument using Nal(Tl) detector for underwater measurement of
radioactivity, supplied to the Center of Nuclear Techniques.
An assortment of constructed instruments for practical usage is shown in Fig. D3.

* EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS OR SYSTEMS.

- CAMAC/PC-XT-based data acquisition and processing system with automatic sample
changer for XRF spectrometry and analysis. (1)
- PC/AT-based (formerly AppIe-2-based) delay neutron measurement system for
simultaneous analysis of U and Th in natural radioactive ores ; consisting of 6 He-3 detectors,
analog processors, automatic control and data processing.
- PC/AT-based spectrometer system with automatic sample transfer and timing control
for prompt-gamma analysis of short-lived nuclides.
- PC/AT-based spectrometers (2 for INAA and 1 for XRF) put into operation by using
locally designed MCD/PC modules (2) in NIM standard and 1 MCA-MCS interfacing board,
all with 8K-channel acquisition and display (Fig. D4).
- General-purpose Apple-2-based multi-channel analyzer MCA-8N (in NIM) interfaced
with a TLD system for personal dosimetry.

35
 • V

Fig. D3. Instruments foi-

practical application :
- Left: SCA system in
Eurocard modular de-
sign ; Dual-channel reno-
graph (electronic part).
Right : [IP-based 4-chan-
nel gamma spectrometer
for geological survey;
IA EA -designed SCA.

- Apple-2-based multi-channel analyzer MCA-8E in Eurocard, for gamma spectrometry

using scintillation detector.
- PC/AT-based protocol computer system REPROS-DALAT for registration of
operating states of reactor control system and other supporting techno-facilities. Designed in
Eurocard, the system consists of such modules as ADC, Counter, Register Assembly, Control
and Computer Interface. Software written in Quick Basic and Assembler. (Co-operative work
between Reactor Dept. and Nuclear Electronics Dept. ; see Fig. B4).
-A low-background counting system LOWBETA-I for measurement of environmental
samples, using two plastic scintillation detectors in anti-coincidence set-up, permitting
background count to attain 3 cpm. System designed in modular Eurocard.

* NIM MODULES
- Spectroscopy amplifier with quasi-triangular output. (2)
- 5-kV bias supplies for semi-conductor detectors. (3)
- NIM modules in preparation for setting-up a pair/compton suppressed spectrometer
system for nuclear reaction studies (see Fig. D5): (4)
- Triple-channel wideband Fast Filter Amplifier with PZ and BLR.
- Spectroscopy Amplifier with Gated Integrator. (5)
- Dual-channel low-noise Amplifier-Timing SCA.
- Time-to-Amplitude Converter-Timing SCA providing output signal amplitude
proportional to time interval between START-STOP inputs.
- Triple-channel Constant-Fraction Discriminator using ARC principle to produce
output pulse at time independent of input pulse amplitude and risetime.

36
 Fig. D4. PC/AT-based
spectrometer making use
of MCA-MCS interfa-
cing, board + software
developed by Nuclear
Electronics Dept.

- Nano-second Delay unit, consisting of 2 independent channels. Delay time variable

from 2 ns to 63 ns.
- General-purpose Coincidence unit, comprising 4 COINC. inputs and 1 ANTI-COINC.
input. Resolving time variable from 100 ps to 62 ns.
- Fast Coincidence unit, with 4 COINC. inputs and 1 ANTI-COINC. input. Minimum
resolving time is 100 ps.
- Linear Gate module, transmitting positive pulses as allowed by gate control signals (gatt
signal width variable from 0.5fis to 60,Us).

* INSTRUMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

- PC/AT-based XRF analysis system in Eurocard, complete with semiconductor detectoi
and computer, for analysis of commercial gold alloys.

Fig. D5, NIM modules

for pair/'comp ton-sup-
pressed spectrometer.

37
 - PC/AT-based gamma spectrometer using scintillation detector for general research
work. Designed in Eurocard. (See Fig. D6).
-Alpha spectrometer ALPHA-1 in Eurocard. interfaced with Apple for environmental
monitoring of alpha-emitting nuclides, using surface-barrier detector.

REFERENCES:

(1) Vu Trung Hieu.

CAM AC/IBM-PC-Based System Development for Nuclear Spectrocopy. XIII Internati-
onal Symposium on Nuclear Electronics, Varna. Bulgaria, 1986.
(2) Dinh Sy Hien. Dang Lanh.
Quasi-Symerical Triangle Output Spectroscopy Amplifier. XIII International Symposium
on Nuclear Electronics, Varna, Bulgaria. 1986.
(3) Dinh Sy Hien.
5kV-High Voltage Power Supply. Communications of NRI, Kiev, USSR, 1989.
(4) Dinh Sy Hien.
A Set of Modules for Spectroscopy Measurement. Communications of NRI, Kiev, USSR.
1990.
(5) Dinh Sy Hien.
A Spectroscopy Amplifier and Gated Integrator. Communications of NRI, Kiev, USSR,
1989.

Fig. D6. Eurocard modu-

les for a computer-based
spectrometer.

38f
 RADIATION
PRO 1 lilC 110JN Deputy Director,
T\f\Q*T\ MTf'TTI \7 Responsible for Radioprotection
UUJMlVlrJ 1 K I and Nuclear Safety.

El. OBJECTIVES.
- Assuring that National Regulation on Radiation Protection and Safety be properly
applied in the operation and utilization of the Dalat nuclear research reactor and the Co-60
irradiator, in the production and distribution of radioisotopes for use in various institutions,
especially hospitals.
- Research activities in personal dosimetry, environmental monitoring and waste
management.

E2. PERSONAL DOSIMETRY

Thermo-iuminescence dosimetry has been routinely used for personal dosimetry control of
around 100 scientific staff of the Institute and 80 persons working in other institutions, mostly
hospitals.
The TLD system (Fig. E1) consists of a VINTEN Universal TOLEDO 654D connected to
an Apple-II micro-computer for data processing and storage. TLD detectors of types LiF-6,
LiF-7 (Teledyne) have been used until recently. Due to some difficulties in importing LiF
detectors in sufficient quantity, research on the alternative use of CaSO4 :Dy powder has been
pushed forward, and the final result of this effort was a product possessing good sensitivity
and linearity, as shown in Table E.I.

39
Table E.I. Comparison between locally produced CaSO 4 : Dy powder and imported LiF
detectors.

Parameters CaS04: Dy powder LiF-7

- Fading 10% / 2 months 10%/2 months

- Linearity range lmR - 5000R 5mR - 300R
- D min 0.5 mR 5mR
- Sensitivity (Co-60) 80 1
relative to LiF-7

Fig. E1. TLD system incorporated with Apple-/1

E3. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING. (1)

* Environmental monitoring activities have begun in 1984 only to monitor and control the
radioactivity level in the reactor surroundings, but since 1986, have been extended to cover all
studies related to environmental radioactivity of the whole region.
The equipment currently in use consist of :
- Computer-based gamma spectrometer with HPGe detector of 67cc housed in
low-background shielding (2cps background for energy range 100 keV to 2000 keV).
- Alpha spectrometer
- Low-beta counter with 3 cpm background (constructed by Nuclear Electronics
Dept.)

40
 - Equipment for chemical analysis
- Equipment for sample collection & preparation, including high capacity air sucking
equipment (lOOOniVh). planchets. rotary evaporator, vacuum drying ovens, freeze dryer,
etc.

* Some results obtained :

- From constant monitoring of airborne and fallout radionuclide concentrations since the
beginning of 1986. it has been possible to discover in May-August the presence in appreciable
amount of radionuclides directly connected with the Chernobyl accident. Besides, peak
variations have been found to occur yearly during the dry season, from December to
Februaiy.
Fig. fc2 shows the monthly variations of Cs-137 content in airborne (Fig. E2b) and fallout
(Fig. E2c). The monthly rainfall pattern recorded at the Dalat meteorological station is also
shown for comparison (Fig. E2a). The occurrence of the maxima of Cs-137 content indicates a
500

400

300

100

I.4
4.2 .Chernobyl b)

.2

3 •

Chernobyl c)

""V
A J O A J O A J O A J O J A J O
1 0©7 7988
Fig. F.2.<(/ Rainfall deposition
ht (\-l37 in (lirhornc
o Cs-137 in fallout

41
 periodical injection of radioactive debris from stratosphere into troposphere in early
spring.
- The determination of radionuclide content in some plants and sea weeds (14 varieties)
showed high content of Cs-137 in lichen (24 Bq/kg fresh weight), fern (6 Bq/kgfw), young
pine needles (3 Bq/kgfw) and L' rong mo" sea weed (0.1 Bq/kgfw). The presence of Cs-134
(Chernobyl product) is still observed in these samples until now.
Seasonal variations of the content in young pine needles of such radionuclides as Co-60.
Cs-137, Cs-134. Be-7, U, Th and K-40 have been continuously determined.
- To evaluate human radioactivity intake in Vietnam we have proceeded to determine the
concentration of various radionuclides in aerosol, drinking water and main foodstulTs, like
rice and other grains (48%. 15 kg/month), fruit and vegetable (29%. 9 kg/month), fish (10%.
3 kg/month), meat (6.4%, 2 kg/month), etc.
Table E.II shows results as obtained from 10 varieties offish, 10 varieties of rice. 12
varieties of vegetable, 6 varieties of tea, etc. most popularly used in South Vietnam.

Table E.II. Concentration of radionuclides in air, drinking water and foodstuffs

Be-7 Cs-137 Cs-134 Sr-90

- Air (Bq/m 3 ) (0.7-3) x 10"3 (1-7) x lO"7 (0-4) x lO"7

- Drinking water 0.4 - 4 2 - 20

- Rice(BqZkgdw) 0.01 - 0.2

- Vegetable (Bq/kgfw) 0.01 - 11 0.01 - 0.6 0 - 0.1
- Fish (Bq/kgfw) 0.01 - 0.7 0 - 5
- Tea (Bq/kgdw) 0 - 60 4 - 20 0 - 2
- Meat (Bq/kgfw) 0.1 - 1.5

Note : kgfw = kg fresh weight; kgdw = kg dry weight

E4. RADIONUCLIDE MONITORING OF REACTOR COOLING WATER. (2)
Fig E3 shows as an example the results of monitoring of some fission and activation
products in reactor primary cooling water. Very low and constant concentration of inert gas
fission product Xe-135 in reactor primary cooling water indicates high stability and quality of
the fuel elements in relation to the development of microdefects in the fuel element cladding
during a long period of reactor exploitation.

42
 V\
Mn -5« /I
.J\ A ~.A> \ / *'""" ^^J\
Xe-13 5

X » — 1 3 :S
vv — T :^ v

Jig. E3. Results of monitoring of Jissioit and activation products in reactor primary cooling
water.

K5. LOW-ACTIVITY WASTE MANAGEMENT.

A low-activity liquid waste processing system and a waste disposal cemetery have been
built to take care of all radioactive wastes from reactor operation and laboratories. All liquid
wastes from reactor primary cooling loop, radiochemical laboratories, radioisotope
production laboratories and from washing machines having specific gamma activity below 10'7
Ci/l and total beta activity below KK'Ci/l are transferred through stainless steel tubings to
the central processing system.
The system consists of 4 reactor tanks of 5 my each, mechanical filters containing quartz
sand and anthracite, ion-exchange filters. 4 intermediate radioactive waste storage pools I nr5
capacity each, system for regeneration of ion-exchange resin, etc. The liquid wastes in the
reactors are stirred for best mixing and co-precipitated by iron sulphate, thereafter pumped
through mechanical filters and ion exchange columns containing Soviet resins KU-2-8 (cation)
and AN-31, AV-17-8 (anion).
The filtering efficiency of the ion exchangers is about 104 for 1-I31, Cs-l37. Sr-90. S-35...
and I03 for P-32, Ce-I4l. After passing through the two ion-exchange filters, water at this
stage could be discharged directly into the environment, or retained for further filtering by one
more ion-exchange stage and finally supplied to the reactor primary cooling water reserve
tank.
The waste residue from the above filtering process is transferred to the radioactive waste
cemetery for burial together with solid waste by cementation.

43
Fig. E4. Part of the radioactive liquid waste processing system. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nang (right >
Head, Waste Management Laboratory.

REFERENCES:

(1) Phain Duy Hien, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Doan Trong Ngo. Trail Van Luyen. Truong Y.
IAEA Research Contract No 4656/R1/RB. Final Report. 198*).

(2) Pham Duy Hien. Ngo Quang Huy.

Seminav on the Use of Research Reactors in Fundamental and Applied Sciences.
Tajura-Tripoli. Libya. 16-20 September. 1984.

44
 RADIOANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
Dr. NGUYEN MONG SINH
Deputy Director,
Haul. Radiochemistry Department

Fl. OBJECTIVE.
Application of radiochemica! analytical techniques such as RNAA, radioisotope dilution.
in association with classical analytical methods to analyze geological, biological and
environmental samples.

F2. RADIOCHEMICAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS (RNAA).

To improve the usual detection limit of 10'2 ppm of gold in geological samples having high
content of As, Sb by INAA method, it has been necessary to make use of additional
radiochemical methods. It was found that the gold enrichment processes either after
irradiation using di-n-butyl sulphide extraction, or before irradiation using AG 1x8 ion
exchanger column, have permitted a marked improvement of gold detection limit down to
lCHppm in the above-mentioned types of samples. Fig. Fl. illustrates an example of analysis
of a 5-g geological sample containing gold down to 0.01 ppm, where (a) and (b) are gamma
spectra obtained respectively by INAA without radiochemical processing and by RNAA (by
dissolving sample in acid and using di-n-butyl sulphide extraction in benzene). The Au-198
peak appears very neatly in (b). The RNAA method has also been applied in the analysis of W,
Sb, Ag, Se. Hg, etc.

F3. RADIOISOTOPE DILUTION METHOD.

This method has been used for analysis of phosphorous content in biological and cattle
feed samples. This analytical technique proved to be of advantage over the classical
Fig. Fl. Gamma spectra
obtained (a) by INAA
ami (b) by RNAA in
analyzing auriferous sam-
ples
photometric method in accuracy and convenience of use. The method is furthermore
inexpensive, since using the radioisotopes directly produced by the nuclear reactor.

F4. OTHER ANALYTICAL METHODS.

In order to establish a full-fledged analytical centre at Dalat NRI. and in complementing
to nuclear analytical techniques like INAA. RNAA. XRFA... it has been decided to
strengthen such classical analytical chemistry methods as spectrophotometry. flame
photometry, polarography. etc. together with associated equipment and accessories for
routine use. Fig. F2. shows part of the laboratory equipment.

F5. TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS.

* ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CATTLE FEED.
Within the framework of a national research project, the analysis of trace elements such
as Co. Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn,... in more than a thousand natural cattle feed samples (like grains,
vegetable, grass, water plants, dried fish powder, etc.) as well as samples of prepared feedstuffs
on sale has been carried out. From these results, it was found for example that prepared
animal feedstuffs like PREMIX 1, 2. 3 have a very low content of important trace elements
such as Co, Cu, Mn, Zn. Of note also was the case of iodine depletion in the supplementary
feed for calves during the weaning period, as found from comparing the analytical results of
their hair before and after weaning.

46
 % •

Fig. F2. Part of the laboratory equipment. L to R ; precision

balance ; urea monitor ; pH meter ; 2 types of spectrophotometers ;
gas ehromatography system.

* ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOME TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS.

At the Ginseng Centre of Vietnam, systematic research has been carried out for breeding
and production of varieties of Vietnamese ginseng biomasses by in-vitro callus culture
technique. Nutritive ingredients of the callus culture media, especially minerals, were
identified, basing on the results of analysis of trace elements affecting the growth and
development of these ginseng callus types. The laboratory for trace element analysis of
biological samples of NRI has taken an active part in the analysis of various types of medicinal
plants and ginseng roots.
Table F.I presents typical results of elemental analysis of medicinal plant (VN HBl) and
Vietnamese ginseng root (VN HB2) samples.

47
 Table F.I. Average content of some elements as found in medicinal plant and ginseng.

Elemental content in ppm

Samples
As B Cu Fe Hg Mn Se Zn

VN HB1 0.17 8.5 2.4 86 0.03 0.6 0.08 ilO

VN HB2 0.1 120 6.2 90 0.04 0.9 0.05 170
 PRODUCTION OF RADIOISOTOPES
AND RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS

Gl. OBJECTIVES.
Radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical production.
- Radiochemical research and development.

G2. PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND LABORATORY.

An area of 200 sq. m. close to the reactor hall was reserved for radioisotope and
radiopharmaccutical production. The main facilities available for the production consist of

Fig. Gl. Radioisotope production laboratory.

Dr. Le Van So I left). Head, Radioisotope Production Department

49
one hot cell with master slave manipulator, a production line for 1-131 isotope and its labelled
compounds, which is composed of 4 shielded cells with ball-joint manipulators and 5 shielded
fume hoods for the production of labelled compounds and beta-emitting isotopes, one
double-compartment multipurpose junior cave with ball-joint manipulators for the
production of industrial radioisotopes and a portable chromatographic gel-type Tc-99m
generator production line basing on the indigenous TiMo gel-elution technology developed in
our Institute including two shielded cells and glove boxes. A laboratory for the production of
in-vivo Tc-99m labelled kits is already adequately equipped.
The main instruments and facilities for quality control consist of thin - layer
chromatogram scanner, multichannel analyzer coupled with HPGe detector, a HPLC (high
pressure liquid chromatograph), the facilities for biomedical quality control, etc.
Since the beginning of 1984 (the year of inauguration of our reactor) up to now, the
Institute has concentrated its isotope production on the following radionuclides:
- P-32 in the form of injectable orthophosphate solution and P-32 applicator for skin
disease therapeutics.
- 1-131 in the forms of Nal solution, 1-131 capsule and hippuran.
- Tc-99m generator.
-Cr-51 in the form of injectable sodium-chromate solution and solution of
chromium-chloride and Cr - EDTA.
All these isotopes are produced every 3 weeks. Other radioisotopes such as Co-60, Zn-65,
Cu-64, Na-24, Rb-86, etc. are also produced when requested.
The annual production of radioisotopes since 1984 is as shown in Fig. G2.

180 .
t 160 .
o
-* 140 .
« 120 .
~ 100 -
o
< 80
2 60
2 40
20
0 n •0
1934 1986 19«8 1990
1985 1987 1989 Fig. G2. Annual production of radioisotopes.

50
 G3. PRODUCTION METHODS.
* IODINE-131.
This isotope is obtained from the nuclear reaction :
Te-130(n, Y ) Te-131 —^-+1-131
I-I3I isotope is separated from neutron irradiated target TeO in the form of
sodium-iodide solution (no carrier added) by dry distillation method. 1-131 vapor trapped in a
0.IN Na 2 CO 3 /NaHCO 3 buffer solution, after stream sterilization, is delivered to users in the
form of sodium - iodide (1-131) and/or gelatine capsules containing 1-131 impregnated with
salt mixture of bisodium-hydrogen phosphate, sodium-thiosulphate and ascorbic acid.

* PHOSPHORUS-32
Injectable carrier - free P-32 solution is produced by nuclear reaction S-32 (n, p) P-32.
The sublimation technique is used to separate P-32 isotope frorr. sulphur target matrix. P-32
isotope applicators for skin disease treatment is produced by irradiation of phosphorus via the
reaction P-31 (n, Y ) P-32.

*TECHNETIUM-99m.
Reaction Mo-98 (n, Y ) Mo-99 on target containing natural molybdenum is used to
produce Tc-99m generator. At first MEK solvent extraction method was used for Tc-99m
production. Now portable chromatographic gel-type Tc-99m generator namely Gelutec-
A,B,C, are successfully prepared using titanium-molybdate gel column.(3)

*CHROMIUM-51
Cr-51 isotope is prepared from Szilard-Chalmers reaction. Recoiled Cr-51 nuclides are
separated from target basing on the selected adsorption of this isotope on an inorganic ion
exchanger Si-ZrP (silicagel - supported zirconium - phosphate) synthesized in our laboratory.
(1,2)

* IRRIDIUM-192 SEALED SOURCES AND OTHER RADIOISOTOPES.

These isotopes are produced using conventional methods.

* IN-V1VO KITS FOR LABELLING WITH Tc-99m.

In order to support the application of Tc-99m generators in clinical diagnosis, the
following kits are regularly prepared : Phytate, Gluconate, Pyrophosphate, Citrate. DMSA,
HIDA, DTPA, Macroaggregated HSA, EHDP (l-hydroxy Ethyliden-1, I - disodium
phosphate),
The processes for the production of kits are briefly described as follows :

51
 Ligand or labelling for the kit containing labelling
agent agent in the particle or
colloidal form.

Addition of S n 2 +
and ingredients formation of particles
or colloidal solution

o
+
Addition of Sn
Kit in liquid form
and ingredients

Lyophylization

Dried KIT

Co-60 gamma-ray
sterilization

Sterile, dry KIT Clinical diagnosis

Fig. G3. Chromcnogra-

pliic gel-type Te-99m ge-
nerator. Gelutec-A and
in-vivo kits for labelling
w/uli Tc-Wm.

52
* 1-131 LABELLED COMPOUND.
O-Iodohippurie-aeid labelled with 1-131 for kidney function assay is regularly produced
using an isotopic exchange reaction with Cu (I) Cl catalyzer and silicaged-supporied AgCl
purification column.

* QUALITY CONTROL.
The radioisotope and radiopharmaceutical quality control is carried out for all batches of
our products. The gamma spectrum analysis using HPGe detector coupled with a
multichannel analyzer is used for radionuelide purity control. The thin layer-, paper-,
gel-chromatography, the HPLC techniques for radioehemical purity, the specirophotometry
and neutron activation analysis for chemical purity, biodistribution assay, biological tests
(apyrogen. sterility, toxicity) and physico-chemical assays (pH. turbidity) are also carried out
regularly.

G4. RADIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

* CHROMATOGRAPHIC GEL-TYPE Tc-99m GENERATOR DEVELOPMENT. (3.2)
Generators using titanium-(Mo-99) molybdate ar.d zirconium- (Mo-99) molybdate
column packing materials are developed in our laboratory.
Three different options of generator were prepared :
- The chromatographic generator using isotonic saline solution as eluent.
- The generator using organic solvent as eluent (solid-solvenl-extraction).
- The chro.natographic generator using redistilled water as eluent and Tc-99m
concentration column.

The Tc-99m separation yield, chemical stability of the product and the shape of elution
curves depend on the composition, crystalline structure and porosity of ZrMo and TiMo
materials. Besides, the reactor irradiation conditions and the post-irradiation treatment of the
ZrMo and TiMo targets with different oxidizing solutions strongly affect the generator
performance. As an example, the specifications of one of our TiMo and ZrMo materials are as
shown in Table G.I and Tc-99m elution curves of a gel type generator using TiMo target are
illustrated in Fig. G4.
The chromatographic gel type Tc-99m generator coupled with a Tc-99m concentration
column such as ZrO 2 . xH2O, AI,O 3 . xH-,0 and gel type generator using organic solvent as
eluent (solid-solvent extraction generator) were also successfully developed.

* NEW METHOD FOR 1-131 PRODUCTION (1)

To overcome the hindrance of local availability of quart;: glass apparatus, we have
developed a new method of low-temperature dry distillation using a new target material (a

53
 Table G.I. Specifications of TiMo and ZrMo beds for the chromatographic Tc-99m
generator production.

Post-TiMo Post-ZrMo Pre-TiMo Pre-ZrMo

- Mo content 310.0 330.0 411.0 320.0

(mg Mo/g bed)
- Particle size (mesh) 50 - 100 50 - 100 50 - 100 50 - 100
- Thermal stability (°C) <I1O <110 < 100 <110
- Hydrolysis degree after 22.1 11.2 70.5 25.2
10 eludon cycles
(eluent: isotonic saline)
- Tc-99 m separation > 80 >80 >85 >80
yield (%)
- Impurity of Mo-99 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001
in Tc-99m eluate (with
alumina purification
column)
1

H
0}
I
o Fig. G4. Elution curves of Tc-99m
isotope from chromatographic generator
using neutron irradiated pre-TiMo co-
lumn.
•H
a) 100 mCi Tc-99m, eluent:
O
0.9% NaCl solution.
cd
o b) 100 mCi Tc-99m, eluent:
•H
•o acetone.
«s
OS c) 100 mCi Tc-99m, eluent :
bidistilled water.
(bed weight: 7g, column size :
6 8 [ 10mm in diameter).

54
 compound of titanium and tellurium, TiTe). The results obtained in this study of titanium-
and zirconium-tellurates (TiTe, ZrTe) targets reveal the fact that 1-131 nuclides formed in the
reactor irradiated TiTe and ZrTe existed mainly in the chemical forms I 2 ,1" and IO3~. IO4~ is
formed in a very small quantity. The proportions of chemical forms of 1-131 strongly depend
on the nature of the TiTe and ZrTe targets, which are affected by the chemical synthesis
conditions.
The separation yield of I—131 from TiTe target at distillation temperature of 450 °C is of
more than 80 % . The sublimation of 1-131 from neutron-irradiated TiTe target and the
proposed chemical reactions, of formation of 1-131 vapor are shown in Fig. G5.
Based on the results obtained, a set of suitable apparatuses made from normal glass for
dry distillation of 1-131 was designed and put to use. This new low-temperature dry-distillation
method developed by the Institute can be conveniently used in developing countries, where the
local availability of quartz glass apparatus is limited.

* INORGANIC ION EXCHANGER STUDIES. (2)

Studies on the-synthetic inorganic ion exchangers and their applications in radiochemical
separations have been conducted for many, years. The investigated and synthesized ion
exchangers are as follows: microcrystalline zirconium-phosphate, titanium-phosphate,

500
1
I CO
-\

0°
i.— 1
1
I

^ 1
i 1

U
«__/ /r _c J
1

/i / I Ii — - •
a /.
/
4J
/ ' \A) n Z +
°2 4J
U o
a / 4
0
<H
hs -
BJ :
20 40 time [ min-]
Fig. G5. Distillation behaviour of 1-131 and chemical reactions of I
formation in the neutron-irradiated titanium-tellurate target.

55
ammonium molybdo-phosphate (AMP) and hydrous metal oxides such as zirconium-dioxide,
titanium-dioxide, manganese-dioxide, etc. The silica-gel-supported inorganic ion exchangers
in rather large particle form were prepared and successfully applied in the chromatographic
column separations.

REFERENCES:

(l)Le Van So, The Radioisotope and Radiopharmaceutical Production in Vietnam.

Report, Second Asian Symposium on Research Reactors. 22-26 May, 1989, Jakarta.
Indonesia.
(2) Lc Van So, Investigation on the Silica-Gel Supported Form of Microcrystallinc
Zirconium-Phosphate Ion Exchanger and its Applications in Chemical Separation, J.
Radioanal. Nucl. Chem.. (Articles) 99 (1) 7-16, 17-30, 45-54, 55-60, (1986); 98 (2)
225-233(1986).
(3) Le Van So. Preparation of Gel Type Chromatographic Tc-99m Generators Using
Titanium-Molybdate and Zirconium-Molybdate Columns Containing (n, Y )
Mo-99. IAEA Research Co-ordination Meetings on "Use of Low Power Research
Reactors for Preparation of Mo-Tc Generators'", October 1987, Bandung
(Indonesia); March 1990. Bombay (India).

56
 RADIATION
TECHNOLOGY

HI. OBJECTIVES.
- Investigations on some optimal radiation technology processes.
- Radiation sterilization of medical products.
- Feasibility study of a semi-industrial irradiation center in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Food irradiation.

H2. IRRADIATION FACILITIES.

- Co-60 gamma irradiator " Issledovatel" provided by the IAEA in 1983, with an original
loading of 16.500 Ci. The irradiation chamber has a volume of 4 liters, with average dose rate
800 krad/h.
- Possibility for using the reactor central channel (" neutron trap" : 60 mm diameter,
600 mm effective height) which provides a dose rate up to 1 Mrad/h. 20 hours after reactor
shutdown.

H3. RADIATION PROCESSING OF MATERIALS.

* FABRICATION OF WOOD POLYMER COMPOSITE.
Wood polymer composite has been produced on the basis of using light weight and cheap
types of wood, like rubber, pine wood. etc. The physico-mechanical properties of materials
were found to be increasing appreciably, depending on the polymer content as formed from
impregnated monomers. The process has been applied to fabricate 200 loom shuttles of high
quality. Fig. HI illustrates the variation of compressibility of wood versus polymer
concentration, under 3-5 Mrad absorbed doses.

* RADIATION CROSS-LINKING OF POLYETHYLENE.

It was found that corresponding to an increasing gamma dose up to 12-15 Mrad. the
modulus of elasticity of polyethylene exhibited a sharp increase. From this experimental

57
 result. 10,000 loom pickers have been produced and supplied to the textile industry. These
pickers proved to be of great effectiveness in terms of average useful lifetime: 300 hours, as
compared with only 10 hours for a picker without undergoing any radiation treatment.
Investigations on proper selection of additives, sensitizers, etc., for increasing
furthermore the physico-mechanical properties of irradiated polyethylene are currently in
progress. The variation of elasticity modulus at 160 °C of polyethylene with radiation dose is
as shown in Fig. H2.

o.teak _ PMMA
•-rubber — t —

Q02
% polymer in wood
20 60 80 0

Fig. HI. Compressibility r.v polymer Fig. H2. Variation of modulus of

concentration. elasticity of polyethylene vs radiation
dose.

* VULCANIZATION OF NATURAL RUBBER LATEX.

Experiments carried out on vulcanization of natural rubber latex by gamma radiation,
including the use of various types of sensitizers for the process (1). have arrived at some
conclusive results. The cross-linking yield for various forms of rubber is as shown in Table
H.I.

Table H.I
Type of rubber Cross-linking yield
(Cross-links/100 eV)
- Dry rubber 1.5
- Latex + 3% CC14 17
- Latex + 5% n-BA 40

58.
 Nearly 2 tons of natural rubber latex have been irradiated permitting test production of
about 20.000 pairs of vulcanized rubber gloves for surgery and general purpose uses attaining
international standard (ISO 2859).

H4. HIGH-DOSE MEASUREMENT.

Various techniques for measuring high radiation doses have been used :
- Chemical systems such as alcohol-chlorobenzene, dichromate potassium, clear
perspex ;
- Semiconductor diode used as detector connected to a highly sensitive current integrator,
permitting measurement of dose rate from 0.1 rad/s to 1000 rad/s, within 2 - 3% accuracy as
compared with calibrated instruments.
The relative dose-rate distribution as measured in the irradiation chamber of the
" Issledovatel" Co-60 gamma source is as shown in Fig. H3. Fig. H4 shows the variation of
dose rate versus time in the reactor neutron trap after reactor shutdown. Data from Fig. H4
are used for checking the calculations of fuel burn-up.

H5. RADIATION STERILIZATION.

Sterilization by gamma radiation of various medical devices and traditional medicinal
drugs has been studied relatively in depth during the past few years. Parameters such as initial
bioburdens, dose survival curves and sterilization doses were determined. Table H.I I shows
ranges of sterilization doses for various medical ilcjns..
20
Dose rate, kOy/h

15

10

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 iOOC

Elapsed time, min.

Fig. H3. Relative dose-rate distribution Fig. H4. Variation of dose rale in the
in the irradiation chamber of '' Issledo- reactor neutron trap versus time after
vaiel". reactor shutdown.

59
 Table H. II
Medical Products Sterilization Doses (Vlrad)

a) Medical devices :
- transfusion sets, catguts.
surgical gloves, IUD's 2.2 - 2.7
b) Traditional medicinal drugs:
- most common items 2.2 - 2.5
-'" ha sinh" (traditional drug) 33
- snake extract 1.8

The changes of physical and chemical properties of irradiated products and their toxicity
have also been determined. These were shown to be within limits of allowance. Tests on
rabbits and mice showed no existence of pyrogens and toxicity for transfusion sets: good
absorption, no inflammation and satisfactory cicatrization delays of surgical wounds for
catguts. Clinical tests showed entire safety throughout over 1000 cases.
Demonstration for radiation sterilization has been done on semi-pilot scale of catguts
(5.000 m). transfusion sets (2.500 pees). lUD"s (1,000,000 pees) and surgical gloves
(10.000 pees).

H6. FEASIBILITY STUDY OF AN IRRADIATION CENTER.

On the basis of satisfactory results as obtained from the above experimental activities, a
feasibility study for setting up a semi-industrial Irradiation Center in Ho Chi Minh City has
recently been approved. The Center's main functions are :
- Sterilization of medical devices, materials and Pharmaceuticals for local uses or for
export :
- Preservation of food, agricultural and sea products for export and/or local ".•
>.'>nsumption ; f
- Radiation processing of materials, such as vulcanization of natural rubber latex, j
strengthening of plastic materials, production of wood polymer composites, etc. ; A
- Testing of other experimental processes of significance. |
This project arised from increased demands put forwards by various spheres of activity in |
the South of Viet Nam, especially in the Ho Chi Minh City area, for products of higher quality 2
for local consumption and export. Table H.III shows the approximate volume of production f
of various products in Ho Chi Minh City apt to require radiation treatment as the best /
sterilization method. ;

60
JIJ Table H.III

Type of product Total volume (mVy)

a) Medical devices, materials and Pharmaceuticals 10,000

b) Agricultural and sea products :
- Various types of spices (pepper, paprika,
garlic, onion, ginger,...) 6,000
- Dried sea products (shrimp, squid, fish....) 15,000
- Dried fruit, meat,... 10,000

The project calls for using a cobalt-60 source of 300 kCi at the first step of
implementation, to be increased to 500 kCi at a later time for full commercialization stage.
Once put into operation, the Center will have the following socio-economic and
technological advantages :
- Stimulation for increasing production of high quality products for export and local
consumption ;
;
- Improving health services through using sterilized medical devices and materials ; .
- Improving properties of special materials for industrial uses;
- Providing conditions for scientific and technological development in radiation
technology.

j H7. FOOD IRRADIATION

! The objectives sire as follows:
;' • Sprout inhibition of potatoes and onions
• • Desinfestation of some kinds of grains I
: • Decontamination of spices and dried sea products 'g

£ * RESULTS OBTAINED. 3
I - Dalat 04,06 potato variety irradiated at 0.1 kGy after 2-3 weeks from harvest has been I
kept from sprouting for 5 and half months at Dalat room condition (20-22 °C, RH = ?
75-85%), while all unirradiated tubers sprouted after 2 months at the same storage conditions. ^
Red onion variety irradiated at 0.05 kGy has been kept for 8 months at the same Dalat room 4
condition while untreated onion sprouted after 2.5 to 3 months. f
- Lam dong Thuong black bean variety infested by Acantlwscelides obtectus was exposed '•}
to gamma radiation. The results are as following : 4

61
 Gamma lethal dose
•Eggs 5krad
• Larvae 5 "
• Pupae 20 '•
• Adults (after 1 week) 30 '•

The sterility dose for adult insects was determined to be 10 krad.

- It was found that almost all raw spice ingredients and semi-processed spices were
contaminated at rather high level : aerobic colony count = !0 6 - 10 s /g ; mould count =
103- I0 4 /g.
Well processed and mixed spices produced for export (such as curry powder, five-spice
powder, etc.) were contaminated at lower level : aerobic colony count = 104 - 105 / g ; moulds
= 10- - 5 x I02 / g . Shelf- life extension of spices depends on their initial quality, kinds,
storage conditions and initial moisture content. Spices with initial stable quality, suitable
packaging, moisture content 10 - 11%, and irradiated with 5 - 7 kGy have been stored without
deterioration at Dalat room temperature 20 - 22°C. Fig. H6 shows a comparison between
irradiated and non-irradiated paprika powder after 9 months storage.
- IAEA Research Contract on preservation of dried squids and roasted dried squids by
gamma radiation with combined treatment has been successfully carried out. The results arc as
follows :
• Unirradiated or irradiated with doses lower than 3 kGy, dried squids of high moisture
content ( >20%) and high mould contamination ( > 5 x lOVg) became completely
mouldy and spoiled after 1.5 to 2 months of storage at Dalat room temperature (20 - 22°C).
These samples should be irradiated with doses higher than 7 kGy for safe storage time greater
than 3 months.

Fig. H5. Sonic of the

irradiated food sam-
ples. Ms Bui Thi Yen,
Head. Food Irradia-
tion Laboratory.

62
Fig. H6. Comparison of irradiated and unimidiiitcil
paprika powder.

Fig. H7. Results of irradiated and iinirradiated dried

squids after 9 months storage.
 • Dried squids and roasted ready-to-eat dried squids with low moisture content
( < 18%) and low mould contamination ( < 5 x lOVg) irradiated with 3 - 5 kGy have
been kept for more than 9 months at 20 - 22°C. For storage at 30 - 32"C, these samples
should be irradiated at 5 - 7 kGy.
• Samples of dried squids with high moisture content (22-23%) but undergoing
combined treatment of 10% NaCl + 2"i> potassium sorbate and 3 kGy irradiation could be
stored for more than 9 months at 20 - 22"C (Fig. H7).

REFERENCES :

(1) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Radiation Vulcanization of Natural

Rubber Latex (p. 260-267). Tokyo and Takasaki, Japan 24-26 July 1989.

64
 RADIOBIOLOGY

II. OBJECTIVES.
- Effects of radiations on crop plants.
-- Isotope techniques in plant nutrition physiology and plant improvement.
- Nuclear techniques applied on cattle and live-stock.

.12. STUDY OF EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT RADIATIONS ON CROP PLANTS.

Growth stimulating effects of gamma radiation from Co-60 source have been investigated
en some Lam dong crop plants such as corn (Zeamays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.J, peanut
(Arachis hypogea L.)... Various effects of gamma radiation, thermal neutrons from the
reactor, beta particles from P-32 sources have also been investigated on flower varieties like
Dianthus caryophyllus L., orchids and various types of beans. The chlorophyll mutants have
frequently appeared for example in black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.J (Fig. Il-a). High yield
mutants have mostly been induced within gamma dose range from 20 krad to 30 krad
(Fig.Il-b), while fewer mutants have been observed with DES (Di-Ethyl Sulphate).
In-vitro microcutting method combined with gamma irradiation on sweet potato
(Ipomoea batatas L.) showed that doses higher than 500 rad (800-1500 rad) led to abnormal
growth of shoots in local varieties (Fig. I2-a, b).
Recently, fertilized ovule cells and developing zygotes in-vitro have been tested in corn
and peanut in order to produce critical objects which play a decisive role on genetic impact of
ionizing radiations and chemical mutagens.

13. STUDY OF PLANT NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGY AND PLANT IMPROVEMENT

BY RADIOISOTOPE TECHNIQUES.
P-32 techniques with labelled compounds : H3PO4, KH2PO4, Fe (H,PO4)3, A1(H2PO4)3...
and fertilizers : superphosphate, thermophosphate, rockphosphate have widely been applied

65
 tu) (h)
Fig. II. Some mutants of black beans induced by gamma radiation.

Fig. I2-a. Gamma irradiation response of sweet potato slioots cultured

in-vitro treference and 500 R exposure).

66
 to important crops such as corn, peanut,
rice (Oryza saliva L.) mulberry (Morns
alba L.J, potato (Solatium tuberosuni L.),
carrot (Daucus carrota L.J. Moreover,
tracer techniques using Rb-86, K-42 and
such tracer elements as Zn-65, Mo-99,
Fe-59, S-35, Co-58, Ca-45... have been
experimented with success.
A new experimental method with P-32
has been suggested for rice-submerged soil
system. Thanks to this method it is possible
to investigate rice plant in different stages
of growth and on different submerged
paddy soils. According to this model of
experiment, the authors proposed a new
method of quick determination of the
phosphorus deficiency tolerance of rice
varieties, basing on their phosphorus
intake on acid-sulfate soil (this type of soil
has only trace of interchangeable phospho-
rus) (Fig. 13) as a complement to Koyuma
Fig. 12-b. 1500 R exposure. method which is based Qn tillering index.
More than 60 rice varieties which IRRI dispatched annually to be tested on acid-sulphate
and saline soils of the Red river delta and Mekong delta have been assessed. It is shown that
differences in root systems and shoot growth are not enough to permit screening their acid-
sulphate tolerance (Fig. J4).

Fig. 13. Rice seedlings grown on acid-sulphate soil and basalt soil.

67
 It was found that IT 9764-45-2 and some new hybrid lines showed their phosphorus
uptake to be as strong as that of local rice varieties which are considered of high acid-sulphate
tolerance. This method permits the detection and selection of gene sources of rice varieties,
whose phosphorus uptake from soil arid fertilizers is strong. It would constitute the gene
source for high tolerance, productivity and good quality.
It has been possible to detect the diurnal temperature effect on phosphorus uptake
efficiency of rice plant using P-32 technique in co-operation with the Institute of Soil Science
and Agricultural Chemistry (Fig. 15). This result contributes to make clear the effect of
phosphorus fertilizers on paddy soils in both the North and the South, especially in
winter-spring and summer-fall crop seasons.

Fig. 14. Comparison of root growth of rice varieties grown on

acid-sulphate soil.

Using this method in collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Science of the South,
it was clearly demonstrated that, on acid-sulphate soil, the longer was the inundation time
(0-15 days) the stronger was the phosphorus uptake and the better growth the rice plant
showed.
With the above-mentioned method in collaboration with the Agricultural Bureau of Ho
Chi Minh City, it was found that the phosphorus uptake of pine-apple (Ananas eoninumts L.)
from acid-sulphate soil was weak and the efficacy of phosphorus fertilizers was not clear. For

68
peanut, it was determined that phosphorus fertilizer efficiency was higher on gray sandy soil
than that on basalt soil, and the strongest uptake and storage stages of phosphorus are
observed in the vegetative growth and blossoming stages.

14. APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR AND RELATED TECHNIQUES ON CATTLE AND

LIVE-STOCK.
Nuclear and related techniques are being developed for improving existing methods of
diagnosis, disease prevention for cattle as well as their problems of reproductivity and
nutrition, Radioimmunoassay technique has been applied in collaboration with the Institute
of Agricultural Science of the South to determine hormone concentration in blood serum,
post-partum ovary activity, early diagnosis of pregnancy and adaptability of imported
lines.
Isotope techniques, especially using 1-131, Zn-65... combined with other analysis
techniques have been used in studies of various forms of mixed feedstuffs for poultry and
live-stock, in which the nutritive efficiency of iodized oils, iodized salt and iodine rich plants is
being assessed for Lamdong highlands.

imp. nv,-1

5000

10 Time of treatment, day

Fig. 15. P-uptake of rice under various night temperatures.

a : Control
b: Cool treatment
c: Warm treatment

69
 INTERNATIONAL
CO-OPERATION

Jl. IAEA ASSISTANCE.

In the past 5 years, the relation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
occupied the greatest part in foreign activities of the NRI. Many IAEA technical assistance
projects covering a wide range of scientific and technical discipJinesJiave permitted the NR] to
upgrade its specialized laboratories both in Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City. Of particular
importance are the production and quality control of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuti-
cals ; improvement and performance of nuclear analytical methods and services ; practical
support in the design and fabrication of nuclear electronic equipment for research and

Fig. Jl. Dr. Hans Blix.Director General of IAEA, at the Radioisotope Production Laboratory.
NRI. Dalat. (L to R : Dr. Le Van So, Prof. Pham Duy Hien, H.E. Dr. Hans Blix and Dr. Pierre
Villaros - D.G. Assistant).

70
 applications. As aconsequence, the scientific and technical level of the NRI staff has increased
gradually as could be observed from their performance and achievements.
Eight research contracts (RC) with the Agency have been established and implemented
permitting our researchers to obtain significant results from their scientific investigations. Of
these RC's, 3 are related to research reactor technology and nuclear safety, 2 to environmental
studies, 2 to radiation technology, and 1 to nuclear electronics.
The participation of Viet-Nam to the IAEA Regional Co-operation Agreement (RCA) in
various technical co-operation or coordinated research projects, especially the UNDP/RCA
Regional Industrial Project (tracer technology, NDT, radiation technology, NCS), has opened
up new possibilities for close co-operation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

J2. CO-OPERATION WITH THE SOVIET UNION AND OTHERS.

- Following suite to the very intense activities in co-operation with the Soviet Union
pertaining to the reconstruction of the Dalat nuclear research reactor, the NRI has maintained
dose scientific relation with some research institutes of the SU, namely the Kiev Nuclear
Research Institute (in the implementation of a neutron beam for nuclear reaction studies,
using the horizontal beam tube No.4), the State Committee for Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy
and the Moscow Institute of Atomic Energy (in fuel element cladding surface temperature
studies).
- T h e NRI has received 7 fellows coming from Cuba for scientific training and
investigations in/on reactor physics and engineering, activation analysis, radioisotope and
radiopharmaceutical production.
- Arrangements have been made for Initiating bilateral relations and co-operation with
some countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

J3. OUTGOING/INCOMING MISSIONS.

The number of persons from NRI sent overseas for training, attending conferences,
symposiums, and other missions is as shown in Table J.I. The number of incoming experts,
visitors, etc. from IAEA and the Soviet Union is as shown in Table J.II.

71
 Table J.I. Number of persons from NRI sent overseas.

Mission 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Total

- Fellowship (IAEA) 11 8 8 9 6 42
- Training Course 7 5 & 8 11 37
- Conference,
Symposium,
Scientific Visit,... 4 6 5 7 8 30
- Collaboration 1 7 3 1 12

Total : 22 20 26 27 26 121

Table J.II. Number of incoming experts, visitors, etc. from IAEA, Soviet Union.

From 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Total

-IAEA 7 11 9 4 6 37
- Soviet Union 17 5 2 5 29

72
 -m-

DALAT &
HO-CHI-MINH CITY
NATIONAL
ATOMIC
ENERGY REACTOR NUCL. SAFETY
NUCLEAR fiLJCLEAR
COMMITTEE PHYSICS &
PHYSICS
& RADIO-
ELECTRO::::
E.'lGINEF.RiN PROTECTION

SCIENTIFIC
COUNCIL
NRI CENTRAL
LIBRARY
DALAT
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AND
I RADIO-PROTECTION GLASS 4
v COUNCIL RADIO- RADIC-IS3T0PE
MECHANICAL
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/ TECHNICAL
( DEVELOPMENT
V COMMITTEE

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