Performance of NDA techniques on a vitrified waste form

Conference · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:548654

Hurd, J R; Veazey, G W; Prettyman, T H; Mercer, D J; Ricketts, T E; Nakaoka, R K

Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) is currently considering the use of vitrified transuranic (TRU)-waste forms for the final disposition of several waste materials. To date, however, little nondestructive assay (NDA) data have been acquired in the general NDA community to assist in this endeavor. This paper describes the efforts to determine constraints and operating parameters for using NDA instrumentation on vitrified waste. The present study was conducted on a sample composed of a plutonium-contaminated ash, similar to that found in the RFETS inventory, and a borosilicate-based glass. The vitrified waste item was fabricated at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) using methods and equipment similar to those being proposed by RFETS to treat their ash material. The focus of this study centered on the segmented gamma scanner (SGS) with 1/2-inch collimation, a technique that is presently available at RFETS. The accuracy and precision of SGS technology was evaluated, with particular attention to bias issues involving matrix geometry, homogeneity, and attenuation. Tomographic gamma scanning was utilized in the determination of the waste form homogeneity. A thermal neutron technique was also investigated and comparisons made with the gamma results.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 548654
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-97-2741; CONF-970744-; ON: DE98001014; TRN: US200302%%417
• Resource Relation: Conference: 38. annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials management, Phoenix, AZ (US), 07/20/1997--07/24/1997; Other Information: Supercedes report DE98001014; PBD: [1997]; PBD: 1 Nov 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACCURACY
ATTENUATION
GEOMETRY
GLASS
LANL
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE
THERMAL NEUTRONS
WASTE FORMS
WASTES