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Title: Improved sampling and analytical techniques for characterization of very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations

Abstract

This paper summarizes the unique sampling methods that were utilized in a recently completed project sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to perform accurate and precise radiological characterizations of several very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations. The waste types characterized during this project included dry active waste (DAW), oil, secondary-side ion exchange resin, and soil. Special precautions were taken to insure representative sampling of the DAW. This involved the initial direct, quantitative gamma spectrometric analyses of bulk quantities (208-liter drums) of DAW utilizing a specially constructed barrel scanner employing a collimated intrinsic germanium detector assembly. Subsamples of the DAW for destructive radiochemical analyses of the difficult-to-measure 10CF61 radionuclides were then selected which had the same isotopic composition (to within {+-}25%) as that measured for the entire drum of DAW. The techniques for accomplishing this sampling are described. Oil samples were collected from the top, middle and bottom sections of 208-liter drums for radiochemical analyses. These samples were composited to represent the entire drum of oil. The accuracy of this type of sampling was evaluated by comparisons with direct, quantitative assays of a number of the drums using the barrel scanning gamma-ray spectrometer. The accuracy of samplingmore » drums of spent secondary-side ion exchange resin was evaluated by comparing the radionuclide contents of grab samples taken from the tops of the drums with direct assays performed with the barrel scanner. The results of these sampling evaluations indicated that the sampling methods used were generally adequate for providing a reasonably representative subsample from bulk quantities of DAW, oil, and resin. The study also identified a number of potential pitfalls, in sampling of these materials.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States). National Low-Level Waste Management Program
OSTI Identifier:
330692
Report Number(s):
CONF-890854-Vol.3
ON: DE98050437; TRN: IM9915%%209
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: 11. annual DOE low level waste management conference, Pittsburgh, PA (United States), 22-24 Aug 1989; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1989; Related Information: Is Part Of Eleventh annual Department of Energy low-level waste management conference. Volume 3: Waste characterization, waste reduction and minimization, prototype licensing application; PB: 187 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; SAMPLING; RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS; SOILS; ACCURACY; EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Citation Formats

Robertson, D. E., and Robinson, P. J. Improved sampling and analytical techniques for characterization of very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations. United States: N. p., 1989. Web. doi:10.2172/330692.
Robertson, D. E., & Robinson, P. J. Improved sampling and analytical techniques for characterization of very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/330692
Robertson, D. E., and Robinson, P. J. 1989. "Improved sampling and analytical techniques for characterization of very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/330692. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/330692.
@article{osti_330692,
title = {Improved sampling and analytical techniques for characterization of very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations},
author = {Robertson, D. E. and Robinson, P. J.},
abstractNote = {This paper summarizes the unique sampling methods that were utilized in a recently completed project sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to perform accurate and precise radiological characterizations of several very-low-level radwaste materials from commercial nuclear power stations. The waste types characterized during this project included dry active waste (DAW), oil, secondary-side ion exchange resin, and soil. Special precautions were taken to insure representative sampling of the DAW. This involved the initial direct, quantitative gamma spectrometric analyses of bulk quantities (208-liter drums) of DAW utilizing a specially constructed barrel scanner employing a collimated intrinsic germanium detector assembly. Subsamples of the DAW for destructive radiochemical analyses of the difficult-to-measure 10CF61 radionuclides were then selected which had the same isotopic composition (to within {+-}25%) as that measured for the entire drum of DAW. The techniques for accomplishing this sampling are described. Oil samples were collected from the top, middle and bottom sections of 208-liter drums for radiochemical analyses. These samples were composited to represent the entire drum of oil. The accuracy of this type of sampling was evaluated by comparisons with direct, quantitative assays of a number of the drums using the barrel scanning gamma-ray spectrometer. The accuracy of sampling drums of spent secondary-side ion exchange resin was evaluated by comparing the radionuclide contents of grab samples taken from the tops of the drums with direct assays performed with the barrel scanner. The results of these sampling evaluations indicated that the sampling methods used were generally adequate for providing a reasonably representative subsample from bulk quantities of DAW, oil, and resin. The study also identified a number of potential pitfalls, in sampling of these materials.},
doi = {10.2172/330692},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/330692}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989},
month = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1989}
}