Fast, Safe, and Reliable Sample Preparation for Radioactive Waste Analysis

Nuclear decommissioning requires accurate and efficient radioactive waste analysis to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and effective site cleanup. One of the most trusted techniques for sample preparation in this field is borate fusion—a method proven to dissolve complex matrices such as soil, concrete, slag, sludge, and mineral waste.

Borate fusion creates homogeneous glass beads or solutions for elemental analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), ICP-OES, or ICP-MS, enabling fast, reproducible, and safe characterization of nuclear materials.

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Why Choose Borate Fusion for Nuclear Waste Analysis?

Borate fusion excels in preparing a wide range of radioactive samples for lab analysis:

  • Dissolves silicates, oxides, sulfates, phosphates, and organic-rich materials
  • Compatible with multiple analytical techniques (XRF, ICP-OES, ICP-MS)
  • Produces highly uniform and accurate results

Ideal for use in ISO 17025-accredited analytical laboratories.

This technique has become a standard in nuclear science and radioanalytical chemistry, offering superior performance over traditional acid digestions or hazardous fusions.

Katanax Fusion Instruments: Designed for Nuclear Decommissioning Labs

Katanax fusion systems are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste characterization:

Key Benefits:

  • Fully Electric Operation – No gas, no flames—safe for hazardous environments
  • Fast Cycle Times – Complete fusion in ~10–12 minutes per sample
  • High Precision – Reproducible results across operators and sample batches
  • Hands-Free Automation – Minimal handling of radioactive materials
  • Workflow Compatibility – Seamlessly integrates with existing XRF/ICP workflows

Trusted in Radioanalytical Chemistry

The application of borate fusion in nuclear sample prep was pioneered in 1996 during a major study of radioactive contamination at Greenham Common, UK. Led by Professor Ian Croudace, this project demonstrated the advantages of borate fusion for rapid uranium and plutonium analysis in over 650 soil samples.

Since then, borate fusion has become a core method in radioanalytical laboratories supporting nuclear waste disposal, reactor decommissioning, and environmental monitoring programs.