Analytical Chemistry and Materials Characterization Results for Debris Recovered from Nitrate Salt Waste Drum S855793

Technical Report · Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1214619· OSTI ID:1214619

Martinez, Patrick Thomas ^[1]; Chamberlin, Rebecca M. ^[1]; Schwartz, Daniel S. ^[1]; Worley, Christopher Gordon ^[1]; Garduno, Katherine ^[1]; Lujan, Elmer J. W. ^[1]; Borrego, Andres Patricio ^[1]; Castro, Alonso ^[1]; Colletti, Lisa Michelle ^[1]; Fulwyler, James Brent ^[1]; Holland, Charlotte S. ^[1]; Keller, Russell C. ^[1]; Klundt, Dylan James ^[1]; Martinez, Alexander ^[1]; Martin, Frances Louise ^[1]; Montoya, Dennis Patrick ^[1]; Myers, Steven Charles ^[1]; Porterfield, Donivan R. ^[1]; Schake, Ann Rene ^[1]; Schappert, Michael Francis ^[1] ; Soderberg, Constance B. ^[1]; Spencer, Khalil J. ^[1]; Stanley, Floyd E. ^[1]; Thomas, Mariam R. ^[1]; Townsend, Lisa Ellen ^[1]; Xu, Ning ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Solid debris was recovered from the previously-emptied nitrate salt waste drum S855793. The bulk sample was nondestructively assayed for radionuclides in its as-received condition. Three monoliths were selected for further characterization. Two of the monoliths, designated Specimen 1 and 3, consisted primarily of sodium nitrate and lead nitrate, with smaller amounts of lead nitrate oxalate and lead oxide by powder x-ray diffraction. The third monolith, Specimen 2, had a complex composition; lead carbonate was identified as the predominant component, and smaller amounts of nitrate, nitrite and carbonate salts of lead, magnesium and sodium were also identified. Microfocused x-ray fluorescence (MXRF) mapping showed that lead was ubiquitous throughout the cross-sections of Specimens 1 and 2, while heteroelements such as potassium, calcium, chromium, iron, and nickel were found in localized deposits. MXRF examination and destructive analysis of fragments of Specimen 3 showed elevated concentrations of iron, which were broadly distributed through the sample. With the exception of its high iron content and low carbon content, the chemical composition of Specimen 3 was within the ranges of values previously observed in four other nitrate salt samples recovered from emptied waste drums.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1214619
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-15-27132
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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