Radioanalytical Chemistry for Automated Nuclear Waste Process Monitoring

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

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S.)

关键词: Research Programs;    54 Environmental Sciences;    Functionals;    Radioactive Wastes;    38 Radiation Chemistry, Radiochemistry, And Nuclear Chemistry;   

DOI  :  10.2172/896468
RP-ID  :  ERSD-95009-2004
RP-ID  :  FG01-01ER63277
RP-ID  :  896468

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

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.