Institute of Isotopes Co., Ltd. has a significant amount of old Cs-137 radiation sources available, the final disposal of which would entail high costs and generate huge volumes of radioactive waste. From an environmental point of view, it is also important to bury only radiation sources that can no longer be used or recycled. It was important to prevent the migration of Cs-137, hence we were committed to develop a technology that traps caesium and, in extreme cases, prevents it from escaping into the environment.

Experiments with the Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology and the Institute of Materials Engineering at University of Pannonia led us to cast our votes for a ceramic matrix in which the solution made of the powder form from the old sources can be bonded. First the raw material is extracted from the old radiation sources. The solution is then applied to this matrix in a capsule, which then undergoes heat treatment, welding, leakage and contamination tests.

The new radiation sources can be used in many ways for another 15 years in our ISO classified capsules: industrial level and density measurement, calibration, etc. The project has further development opportunities (size, case type, activity etc.).