Salt Processing Project: Off-Line Analysis Methods to Meet Process Cycle Time

摘要

The Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF, Ref. 1) requires analyses to verify that strontium and total alpha content of treated wastes meet Saltstone Processing Facility (SPF) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC, Ref. 2). The SWPF will require that results are available in time to meet process cycle requirements. SWPF personnel sought on-line and at-line monitors (Ref. 3) to follow trends in strontium-90 and alpha concentrations in order to track process performance. While an on-line method is under development at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL, Ref. 4), it has yet to be demonstrated. This report describes offline methods that will not be subject to some of the concerns about and limitations of on-line/at-line methods. Presently Recommendations of off-line technologies to meet SWPF goals are made. The report compares advantages and disadvantages of a variety of approaches including rapid radiochemical separations, automated analytical-scale processing systems, and radiation measurement tools.