OUR LICENSE:
Posession of 2.5 × 10-5 Ci (Curie), i.e. 50g depleted uranium.
All comes in or out via the RPO [ Radiation Protection Office ]. Only as a solid (no powders).
All containers must be labelled (“radiation hazard” only) and locked away.
The authorised labs (6-325 and 6-327(!)) must be locked when radiation authorised personnel are not present.
URANIUM:
All we handle is depleted uranium that contains pretty stable isotopes. 238U containing 0.45% 235U. Activity is 5 × 10-7 Ci/g. Half life is 4.5 × 109 years. The fission products are low energy gamma emitters.
The only two places it is kept are in 6-325; in the glove box and in the two plastic containers in the far fumehood.
The powdered metal is pyrophoric in air.
TOXICITY:
Uranium emits alpha particles of circa 4.2 MeV energy. These are stopped by a latex glove or paper. However, it is very poisonous.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE:
Radioactivity is very easy to detect. The portable detector is always next to the sink in 6-325. Use it to detect contaminants above background (100-300 cpm) on the highest setting. Pass the gauze end of the tube over surfaces at 5 cm per sec, about 1 cm from the surface.
Uranium and its complexes are soluble in conc. nitric acid.