Activities of Azerbaijan in peaceful uses of nuclear energy

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Nükleer Enerjinin Barışçıl Uygulama Alanlarında Ülkelerin Faaliyetleri Activities o f Countries in Peaceful Uses o f Nuclear Energy

ACTIVITIES OF AZERBAIJAN IN PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

I. Mustafaev

Sector of Radiation Researches, National Academy of Sciences, Azerbaijan

The first radiation laboratory in Azerbaijan was founded after Geneva conference in 1959. The important researches on radiation chemistry, radiation physics semi-conductors and dielectrics, radiobiology were realized for more than 40 years in this laboratory and in the Sector of Radiation Researches which was founded in 1969. Many interesting scientific results were achieved in the field of atomic-hydrogen energy and radiation-chemical processes to solve environmental protection problems, etc.

Research on radiation-chemistry conducted in Sector of Radiation Researches of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences can be grouped as follows:

-Radiation chemistry of hydrocarbons and their conversion products -Radiation-chemical modification of catalysts and polymer materials

-Radiolytic processes of hydrogen and hydrogen-containing gas production from water, coals, oil-residues, hydrogen-sulphide and methane

-Radiation-chemical production and modification of carbonic adsorbents, -Radiation-chemical purification of smoke gases from harmful substances -Radiation-chemical processes in adsorbed molecules

-Radiation-chemical polymerization

-Effect of Radiation on construction materials

Radiation research in the Institute of Physics of National Academy of Sciences are conducted in three directions:

-Nuclear physics and elementary particle physics -Effects of irradiation on semiconductors

-Methods of detection and measurement of ionizing radiations

The research in nuclear and elementary particle physics was carried out jointly with the United Institute of Nuclear Researches in Dubna (Russia) and the results of these activities are documented in the paper by Dr Sh. Nagiyev.

The study of the effect of ionizing radiation (electron, neutron, X-ray, gamma ray) on the physical properties of semiconductors MXVI and T1MX2VI (M-In, Ga; X-S, Se, Te, As) was carried out for many years in the Institute of Physics at National Academy of Sciences . The effect of ionizing radiation on the basic parameters of GaSe, InSe, GaTe was studied in the Institute of Photoelectronics.

The research in the field of radiobiology are conducted in Institute of Agriculture, Sector of Radiation Researches, Baku State University and other research organizations. The effect of small doses of gamma- radiation on mulberry snap scribbler, semen of the cotton plant, wheat, onion - baton, com and other agricultural cultures were studied. The methods of increasing the productivity of some cultures by pre-sowing irradiation of their seeds was determined. The antimutagen effect in irradiated (1-3 Gy) wheat with the addition of some antioxidants was studied.

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In the field of peaceful use of a nuclear energy, more than 50 inventions were made, and about 5 00 scientific articles were published, including 14 books [1-14].

The scientific transactions published in the International Scientific Journals “Radiation physics and Chemistry ”, “Atomno-vodorodnaya energetika i teknologiya ”, “ Khimiya vysokikh energiy ”, 66 Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry ” in transactions of' a National Academy of Sciences, in the “Azerbaijan Chemical Journal” and in the Journal “Physics”, etc. The 14 Dr Sc and more 60 PhD theses for scientific degree were defended .

The specialists on the radiation chemistry and nuclear physics are trained basically in Baku State University, Azerbaijan Oil Academy, Pedagogical University and other universities of the country.

The Sector of Radiation Researches has the sources of ionizing radiations in Azerbaijan. 4 stationary isotope sources of a gamma-radiation Co - 60 with activity 10-100 kCi are in Ahmedly scientific - eperimental base and they are used for conducting radiation-chemical processes . The source Cs-137 is mounted on an automobile is used as mobile source for the radiobiological - biological purposes. An accelerator of electrons ELU-4 of the impulsive action, with average energy of electrons 4.2 MeV, pulse duration t = 5 mcs, frequency of the pulse 50 Hz, the powers of the electron beam 1 kW is used for Physico-technical and radiation- chemical researches.

The X-Ray and isotope sources of ionizing radiations are widely used for public health in the country as for diagnostic, and therapeutic purposes (Republican Hospital, Institute of the Oncology, Diagnostic center, Center of a medical rehabilitation and others).The ionizing radiation sources are also used for non-destructive testing of metallic structures for detection of the defects.

In the 1970’s an atomic power plant was planned in Azerbaijan and in the beginning of 1980’s construction was started at the site near Navai. The accident in Chernobyl Atomic Power Plant, and also other ecological and economical problems has obliged to stop the construction.

Special attention is given to the development of devices and equipment for detection and measurement of ionizing radiations. In the Special Space Device Development Bureau of Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency, the devices based on scintillation detectors were designed and successfully installed. At the beginning, it concerns the stationary radiation post, Airgammaspectrometer and Marine gamma survey working on the basis of scintillation effect of the single crystal Nal. These installations allow to measure the dose rates and characteristics of the stimulating source. In the Sector of Radiation Research and Institute of Physics the devices for detection and measurement of ionizing radiations on the basis of solid detectors, with polymer materials were also developed.

In the Institute of Geology, the gamma - spectrometric installation SARI (System for Automatic Radiation Measurement) for research of radionuclide content of radiation sources in any modular condition was developed. The radionuclide content of rocks and mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan and also of the ash of Yatağan Lignites of Turkey were investigated by this system.

The ecological analysis and measurement of radiation background in the country are widely carried out. The promulgation of law about «The radiation safety of the population» by Milli Mejlis in 1997 started the research in the field of radiation monitoring of the environment. Republican sanitary - epideomology center, the Institutes of Geology and Botany, Sector of Radiation researches of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences have made important research in this direction. In particular high level of the background radiation background was observed in the local zones in the old oil-fields.

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The basic regulations for distribution of radionuclides for the soils - plants on terrain of Country has been established by the Institute of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture

In Baku, Special Storage Center “Isotope” is engaged in salvaging and dumping of radiation wastes, and monitoring of radiation in the environment.

The possession of the sources of ionizing radiations by the Sector of Radiation Researches allows successful sterilization of medical products. The project for sterilization of about 500 kg materials per day was established. It is necessary to charge the sources and install the complete machineries for implementation of the project, which is not difficult.

The problem of a radiation safety also attracts attention of the public organizations, especially the ecological ones. The main activity of public organizations "Rüzgar", "Ecoil", “Fovgal” “Radioecological Society ” includes the realization of ecological propagation for radiation safety of the Country . The series of projects for increasing the knowledge of the population on radiation situation in the Country and for the maintenance of the radiation safety under extraordinary conditions of an environmental pollution by radiation were implemented by the support of ISAR F oundation (U S A).

The activity of Azerbaijan in the field of peaceful use of the atomic energy was increased considerably after being member the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2001. This is reflected in the development of a cooperation between countries of the region: Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.

References

1. Radiation in Physics and Chemistry. Proc.of Sector of Radiation Researches (in Russian) Baku- 1978. 2. Radiation physico-chemistry of polymer materials and hydrocarbons. Proc. of Sector of Radiation

Researches (in Russian).Baku 1981

3. The actual problems of energy transformation. Proc. of Sector of Radiation Researches (in Russian) Baku- 1988.

4. The actual problems of radiation researches. Proc. of Sector of Radiation Researches (in Russian). Baku-1991

5. The actual problems of Radiation researches. Proc. of Sector of Radiation Researches (in Russian). Baku-1999

6. Maksimov M.T., Ojagov H.O. Radiation pollution ant their measurement (in Russian). Moscow, Energiatomizdat 1986,225 p

7. Maksimov M.T., Ojagov H.O. Radiation pollution ant their measurement, (in Azeri), Baku-1989, 278 p

8. S.Mamedov, F.Yadreev, E.Vivin Butadien-nitrile caoutchoucs and rubbers on their base.(in Russian), Baku-1991

9. G.Gasymov, S. Abbasov. Acceleration of charged particles and their application (in Azeri). Baku- 1992

10. Ojagov H.O. Devices for radiation and chemical exploring.(in Russian). Baku, 1993,350 p 11. M.Abdullayev, J.Aliyev. Migration of artificial and natural radionuclids in the systems of soil-

plants, (in Russian). Baku-1998

12. A.Hasanov. The processes of transformation gamma quantum and electric discharges in heterogen systems by participation of oxides dielectrics (in Russian). Baku-1998

13. A. Bayramov, Z.Ibrahimov, A.Pashayev. The impact of radiation to man (in Russian). Baku-1999 14. A.Pashayev, A.Bayramov, S.Agayeva Protection from the radiation (in Russian). Baku-2001