Rapid Transuranic Monitoring Unit

Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Description

At the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), there are 2M ft³ of transuranic waste commingled with 8 to 10M ft³ of soil. Retrieval and treatment of this material is one of the final disposition options being considered. The transuranic contaminants, such as oxides of plutonium and americium, can become attached to small soil particles during the excavation process or during internment because of deterioration of the original waste containers, subsidence, and backfill. Since retrieval at INEL and other arid sites would generate considerable dust, control of the potentially contaminated dust spread is mandatory, primarily because of the extremely low levels of uptake allowed (tenths of mg.). A contamination control strategy involves ventilation, dust control, naturally occurring moisture control in the soil/waste mixture, and rapid monitoring to assess the success of the scheme.

A Rapid Transuranic Monitoring (RTM) unit will be demonstrated in the field and will provide on-line monitoring of airborne and loose contamination within the inner building. Hundreds of samples per day of soil, filter, smear, and air samples will be analyzed in an on-line manner for plutonium, americium, and the entire spectrum of gamma emitters. The system utilizes state-of-the-art alpha continuous air monitors (CAMs), a U-L-Shell X-ray measurement system, and a specially designed large-area ionization chamber. The unit has the capability for sample preparation and a separate counting area. The data are assimilated using a VAX 4000 computer and will be continuously displayed and printed out by the computer.

Technical Performance Data

Analyzed samples can be characterized to tens of pCi/g for soils, smears, and filters, and to 1-DAC (a DAC h refers to the maximum permissable concentration of plutonium in air that can be measured in a one hour sampling time) for continuous air monitoring. The RTM unit can measure isotopic plutonium at 20 pCi/g for 15 min. counts. This rapid in-field measurement allows up to 100 samples of soils/filters/smears to be analyzed per day per trailer. For an environmental restoration project such as a pit retrieval, 100 samples per day should be adequate to track contamination levels, thereby supplying an essentially on-line tracking capability. A true ``on-line'' tracking of Pu-239 content is presently not possible.

Cost. RMUs can be procured for $500K. Operations and maintenance costs include four technicians and 10% time assistance from scientists. Life-cycle costs have not been estimated.

Projected Performance

The RMU will be field deployed in October 1993, when actual field performance will be demonstrated.

Waste Applicability

The RTM unit monitors plutonium, americium, any alpha emitter, and the entire gamma spectrum from X-rays to Co-60 and Cs-137 in soils, fallout coupons, filters, air, and liquids.

Status

The RTM unit should be field deployable in October 1993.

Regulatory Considerations

Ecological impacts are not anticipated from use of the RTM unit. Samples for the RTM unit will be standard health physics wrapped and will be prepared under a Class A hood.

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications include monitoring of radioactive contaminated retrieval areas and separation, processing, and storage systems. The RMU could also be applied in accident mitigation.

Baseline Technology

The baseline for rapid monitoring during retrieval is ``in laboratory'' analysis and health physics hand-held instruments. Hand-held instruments can provide gross alpha measurements on surface soils at the 5000 - 10,000 pCi/g levels in minutes. Laboratory measurements can provide 4 samples per radiochemist per day at the 0.2 pCi/g level. Alpha CAMs ``off the shelf'' currently provide about 80 DAC - h sensitivities.

Intellectual Property Rights

Patent Ownership: EG&G Idaho, Inc.
Patent Number: S-71-122, ``A System to Control Contamination During Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste.''

For more information, please contact:

DOE/OTD Environmental Technology

Information Service

1-800-845-2096

DOE Program Manager

Jaffer Mohiuddin

EM-552, Trevion II

U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

(301) 903-7965

Principal Investigators

C.V. McIssac, C.W. Sill, and G.R. Gehrke

EG&G Idaho, Inc.

P.O. Box 1625

Idaho Falls, ID 83415

(208) 526-0581, (208) 526-0605 and

(208) 526-4155

Industrial Partnership

Ordella; Oak Ridge, TN

References

1. Bishoff, J. B., ``Early Waste Retrieval Final Report,'' TREE-1321, August 1979.

2. Duce, S. W., et al., ``Basic Radiological Studies Contamination Control Experiments,'' EGG-WM-8724, September 1989.

3. Duce, S. W., et al., ``Contamination Control Techniques for Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste,'' EGG-PHY-8209, August 1988.

4. Loomis, G. G., ``Contamination Control During TRU-Waste Retrieval at the INEL,'' Waste Management-89, Tucson, AZ, February 26 - March 2, 1989.

5. Loomis, G. G., et al., ``A System to Control Contamination During Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste,'' Waste Management-90, Tucson, AZ, February 25 - March 1, 1990.

6. Loomis, G. G., and C. V. McIsaac, ``Rapid Monitoring of Transuranic Contaminants During Buried TRU Waste Retrieval,'' Waste Management-91, Tucson, AZ, February 24-28, 1991.

7. McIsaac, V. C., and C. R. Amaro, ``Real-Time Transuranic Monitoring with a Victoreen Model 758 Alpha Continuous Air Monitor,'' EGG-WM-8774, September 1989.

8. McIsaac, V. C., et al., ``Rapid Monitoring for Transuranic Contaminants During Buried Waste Retrieval,'' EGG-WTD-9412, March 1991.

9. McKinley, K. B., ``Initial Drum Retrieval Final Report,'' TREE-1286, August 1978.

10. Scott, D. W., and M. R. Winberg, ``Background Ventilation Studies for TRU-Waste Retrieval,'' EGG-WM-8802, October 1989.

11. Shaw, P. G., ``Rapid Determination of Pu Content on Filters and Smears Using Alpha Liquid Scintillation,'' EGG-WM-8775, October 1989.

12. Shaw and P. G., Loomis, ``Plutonium Contamination Control Studies During a Glove Box Scale Simulated Excavation of TRU Buried Waste,'' EGG-WM-8289, October 1988.

13. DOE-ID, ``Technology Information Profile (rev. 2), Technology Name: Rapid Transuranic Monitoring Unit,'' TTP Reference Number: ID-121210, March 25, 1993.

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