Particle Generation by Laser Ablation in Support of Chemical Analysis of High Level Mixed Waste from Plutonium Production Operations

Technical Report · Fri Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/791567· OSTI ID:791567

Dickinson, J Thomas ^[1]; Alexander, Michael L

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1. Washington State University

Investigate particles produced by laser irradiation and their analysis by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (LA/ICP-MS), with a view towards optimizing particle production for analysis of high level waste materials and waste glass. LA/ICP-MS has considerable potential to increase the safety and speed of analysis required for the remediation of high level wastes from cold war plutonium production operations. In some sample types, notably the sodium nitrate-based wastes at Hanford and elsewhere, chemical analysis using typical laser conditions depends strongly on the details of sample history composition in a complex fashion, rendering the results of analysis uncertain. Conversely, waste glass materials appear to be better behaved and require different strategies to optimize analysis.

• Research Organization: Washington State University (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-97ER62516
• OSTI ID: 791567
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/62516; 60075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABLATION
GLASS-BASED WASTE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
LASER ABLATION
LASER BEAM MACHINING
LASER IRRADIATION
MIXED WASTE
MIXTURES
PARTICULATES
PLUTONIUM
SODIUM NITRATE-BASED WASTES