Carbon-14 Release of Irradiated AGR Graphite

RWM wishes to commission a study to measure and further understand the release of carbon-14 from irradiated graphite under a range of relevant conditions. This will involve measurement of total carbon-14 release into the gas and aqueous phases during leaching in an appropriate solution, together with characterisation of the composition. Specifically, this study would investigate the release of carbon-14 from Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) graphite and compare to the previous results obtained from WAGR, BEP0 and Magnox graphite. This will require an experimental programme that closely follows the methods and test durations previously studied for Magnox graphite to provide comparable results. RWM request that the contractor propose a baseline schedule based on a total leaching duration of 24 months, with appropriate scheduled sampling intervals. RWM also request that schedules based on 36 and 48 month leaching durations are also included as optional tasks/extensions, that would allow the leaching to be extended if the results towards the end of 24 months warrant further experimental studies.