Radioanalytical Chemistry for Automated Nuclear Waste Process Monitoring

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/839064· OSTI ID:839064

Egorov, Oleg B; Grate, Jay W; DeVol, Timothy A

This research program is directed toward rapid, sensitive, and selective determination of beta and alpha-emitting radionuclides such as 99Tc, 90Sr, and trans-uranium (TRU) elements in low activity waste (LAW) processing streams. The overall technical approach is based on automated radiochemical measurement principles, which entails integration of sample treatment and separation chemistries and radiometric detection within a single functional analytical instrument. Nuclear waste process streams are particularly challenging for rapid analytical methods due to the complex, high-ionic-strength, caustic brine sample matrix, the presence of interfering radionuclides, and the variable and uncertain speciation of the radionuclides of interest. As a result, matrix modification, speciation control, and separation chemistries are required for use in automated process analyzers. Significant knowledge gaps exist relative to the design of chemistries for such analyzers so that radionuclides can be quantitatively and rapidly separated and analyzed in solutions derived from low-activity waste processing operations. This research is addressing these knowledge gaps in the area of separation science, nuclear detection, and analytical chemistry and instrumentation. The outcome of these investigations will be the knowledge necessary to choose appropriate chemistries for sample matrix modification and analyte speciation control and chemistries for rapid and selective separation and preconcentration of target radionuclides from complex sample matrices. In addition, new approaches for quantification of alpha emitters in solution using solid-state diode detectors, as well as improved instrumentation and signal processing techniques for use with solid-state and scintillation detectors, will be developed. New knowledge of the performance of separation materials, matrix modification and speciation control chemistries, instrument configurations, and quantitative analytical approaches will provide the basis for designing effective instrumentation for radioanalytical process monitoring. Research Progress and Implications

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA; Clemson University, Clemson, SC (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC) (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-01ER63277
• OSTI ID: 839064
• Report Number(s): EMSP-81923-2004; R&D Project: EMSP 81923; TRN: US0501573
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 2004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
BRINES
CHEMISTRY
DETECTION
FUNCTIONALS
MATRICES
MODIFICATIONS
MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
TARGETS
WASTE PROCESSING