Reducing characterization costs at radioactive waste sites using scaling factor methodology (SFM)
- Waste Policy Inst., Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
Characterization costs at radioactive waste sites can be two or three times greater than the characterization costs at hazardous waste sites due to the increased health and safety requirements and the regulatory driven low analytical quantitation limit for highly toxic radionuclides. The quantification of some toxic radionuclides requires detailed chemical separation, specialized radioactivity counting instrumentation, and long counting times. These requirements usually escalate analytical costs and increase the time required for the decision-making process on the remediation of radioactive waste sites. An alternative to high analytical costs and reducing long characterization processing times is the implementation of scaling factor methodology (SFM). The concept of scaling factors is used extensively in many disciplines, but has yet to receive attention and widespread acceptance in the environmental restoration arena. SFM is the process in which the concentration of one radionuclide is inferred from another nuclide that is actually measured. This report examines how the SFM has evolved in the commercial nuclear industry and its potential use in environmental restoration. In addition, it will examine the potential of using scaling factor methodology to reduce the number of radiological sample analyses required in remediation and waste management projects thus lowering the analytical costs.
- OSTI ID:
- 69769
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941189-; ISBN 1-56590-016-2; TRN: IM9529%%157
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SUPERFUND XV: 15th environmental conference and exhibition for the hazardous materials/hazardous waste management industry, Washington, DC (United States), 29 Nov - 1 Dec 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Superfund XV conference proceedings. Volume 2; PB: 877 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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