Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiochemical analyses for the defense waste processing facility startup at the Savannah River Site

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Highly radioactive waste from defense-related activities at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina are to be incorporated into a borosilicate glass in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) for long-tem geological isolation. Processing and repository safety considerations require the determination of 24 radioisotopes that meet the reporting criteria. These isotopes include fission products, activation products, and daughter nuclei that grow into the waste. Four isotopes,137Cs,90Sr,238Pu and238U will be routinely measured in the DWPF operation for process control. This work shows that the concentrations of the other 20 reportable radioisotopes in the final glass product can be predicted from a thorough characterization of the high level waste (HLW) tanks and a knowledge of the concentrations of the major non-radioactive components in the vitrification process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. R. Choppin, P. J. Wong, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 203 (1996) 575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Waste Acceptance Product Specifications for Vitrified High-Level Waste Foms, Revision 0, USDOE Document EM-WAPS, U.S. Department of Energy, Gemantown, MD, 1993.

  3. F. W. Walker, J. R. Parrington, F. Feiner, (Eds), Chart of the Nuclides, 14th ed. General Electric Corp., San Jose, CA, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  4. G. P. Russ, III, J. M. Bazan, Spectrochim. Acta, 42B (1987) 49.

    Google Scholar 

  5. R. M. Brown, S. E. Long, C. J. Pickpord, Total Environm., 70 (1988) 265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J. S. Crain, D. L. Gallimore, Appl. Spectrosc., 46 (1992) 547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. D. W. Koppenaal, Anal. Chem., 62 (1990) 307R.

    Google Scholar 

  8. D. W. Koppenaal, Anal. Chem., 64 (1992) 325R.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. C. Almon, W. F. Kinard, R. A. Dewberry, N. E. Bibler, Multimodal Separation of Alkali, Alkaline Earth, Transition, Post-Transition, Lanthanide, and Actinide Cations in Waste Sludge, Symp. on Ion-Chromatography for the Power Industry. New Orleans, LA, May 20, 1991.

  10. W. F. Kinard, N. E. Bibler, C. J. Coleman, S. B. Wyrick, Radiochim. Acta, 66/67 (1994) 259.

    Google Scholar 

  11. W. F. Kinard, N. E. Bibler, C. J. Coleman, W. T. Boyce, S. B. Wyrick, Applications of Inductively Coupled Plasma — Mass Spectrometry to Radiochemical Problems at the Savannah River Site, in: Applications of Inductively Coupled Plasma — Mass Spectrometry to Radionuclide Deteminations, ASTM STP 1291,R. W. Morrow, andJ. S. Crain (Eds), American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshocken, PA, 1995, p. 48.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Charleston, 29424, Charleston, SC, USA

    W. F. Kinard

  2. Savannah River Technology Center, Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Bldg. 773-A, 29802, Aiken, SC, USA

    N. E. Bibler, C. J. Coleman & R. A. Dewberry

Authors
  1. W. F. Kinard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. E. Bibler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. J. Coleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. A. Dewberry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kinard, W.F., Bibler, N.E., Coleman, C.J. et al. Radiochemical analyses for the defense waste processing facility startup at the Savannah River Site. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 219, 197–201 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02038500

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02038500

Keywords

Search

Navigation