Radioanalytical Chemistry for Automated Nuclear Waste Process Monitoring

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/896468· OSTI ID:896468

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.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Clemson University, Clemson, SC
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: FG01-01ER63277
• OSTI ID: 896468
• Report Number(s): ERSD-95009-2004; R&D Project: ERSD 95009; TRN: US0700747
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
BRINES
CHEMISTRY
DESIGN
DETECTION
FUNCTIONALS
MONITORING
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES