Discrimination between Depleted Uranium and Natural Uranium in Uranium Compounds Stored in Okayama University

In Japan, the Law for the Regulation of Nuclear Source Materials, Nuclear Fuel Materials and Reactors (Regulation Law) controls the nuclear fuel materials such as thorium (Th), uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu). Under the Regulation Law, all related materials and reactors are needed to register to the Government. In Okayama University, many nuclear fuel materials, mainly uranium compounds, are registered and stored in 11 departments, separately. Discrimination between depleted uranium and natural uranium is important for the observance of the Regulation Law and the safety management of the nuclear fuel materials in the Okayama University. However, the discrimination of the two kind of uranium has poorly analyzed. In this study, we analyzed several uranium compounds by using γ-ray spectrometry to determine whether the depleted uranium or not.