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D & D Meeting the Challenges

D & D Meeting the Challenges. Barry A. Stephenson & Jack R. Hall McLinc DOECAP 2010 Seattle, Washington September 19-24, 2010. D & D Project Laboratory Needs. Air and Workplace Monitoring Sample Characterization Environmental Samples Waste Samples for Disposal

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D & D Meeting the Challenges

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  1. D & D Meeting the Challenges Barry A. Stephenson & Jack R. Hall McLinc DOECAP 2010 Seattle, Washington September 19-24, 2010

  2. D & D Project Laboratory Needs • Air and Workplace Monitoring • Sample Characterization • Environmental Samples • Waste Samples for Disposal • Unknown Material for Identification • Rapid Treatability Studies with Surrogates or Actual Waste

  3. Challenges for the Laboratories • Extremely Hazardous Samples • Uranium Hexafluoride • Beryllium Powders • High Radioactivity (High U and Tc-99) • Complex Matrix (i.e.: gas evolving or reactive sample) • Sampling Issues • Classified Materials • Need for Rapid TAT (i.e.: same day!!)

  4. Challenges for the Laboratories • Wide Variety of Instrumentation Required • From routine: GC/EC, GC/MS, ICP, LSC, GPC, Alpha Spec, Gamma, IC • to the more exotic: ICP/MS, SEM-EDS, FTIR, XRD,XPS and TEM • Non-routine Method Request (i.e.: unique ASTM Methods) • Solving the Problem with an Analytical Approach in a Timely Manner

  5. Challenges for the Laboratories • Method Development or Modification • New Leaching Procedures • Sample Assay • Dissolution Methods • Unique Instrumentation • Micro Flashpoint Apparatus • Micro Viscosity Analyzer • Explosivity Testing

  6. How Challenges are Being Met • Full Service Environmental (FSE) and Specialty Labs Working Together • Evaluate Project Requirements and Determine Who Does What Using SMO or Client Directly • Specialty Lab Preparing Samples for FSE Lab • Removing Classified Issue • Lowering Hazard and Radioactivity Level • Sub-Sampling to Submit Small Sample

  7. How Challenges Are Being Met • Method Modification • Smaller Sample Size • Different Digestion Procedures • New Leaching Procedures • Modification of EPA, ASTM or other Methods

  8. Survey Methodology • ICP/MS Semiquant Scan of 70+ Elements • FTIR – Trace to Major Organics (Solids and Liquids) • XRD – Compound Identification • SEM-EDS – High Magnification + Elemental Identification

  9. SEM-EDS

  10. How Challenges Are Being Met • Process Knowledge • Using Knowledge of Uranium & Technetium Chemistry • Experienced Multi-Discipline Staff • Specialty and FSE Labs Working Together

  11. Example Projects • Type of Preps • U-233 Stabilization • MFL Oil • DU Penetrators – Accelerated Weathering

  12. Types of Preps • Preps Completed & Sent to FSE Lab • Why? • High Hazard • High Radioactivity • Shipping Issues • Classified Samples

  13. Types of Preps • Preps Performed for SMO and Other Clients Include: • TCLP, Metals, Mercury, PCBs, SVOA & VOA • Total Rad, Tc-99 & Uranium Isotopic • Labs Work Together to Use the Receiving Lab’s Spiking Material. • McLinc used 7 Labs During Past Year.

  14. Example Prep Projects • Support to K-25 Waste Sample Characterization (Classified/Reactive or High Rad) • Waste Metal Scrap Yard – Samples Leached to Determine Rad (High U-235, Large Samples Not Able to Ship).

  15. U-233 Stabilization Project • Develop a Process to Stabilize U-233 Waste for Safe Long Term Disposal • Scope of Work • Take a Process Formulation Developed at the Beaker Level – Finalize Optimum Formulation • Scale up to 5 Liter Mixer/Dryer to Produce a Product that Pours and then Solidifies and Passes a TCLP for Chromium and Cadmium Using Depleted Uranium for U-233

  16. 5 Liter Mixer Dryer for Project

  17. 5 Liter Mixer Set for DU Run

  18. Final Solid Product

  19. MFL Oil Projects • Miller’s Fluorinated Oil – Polymer of Chlorotrifluoroethylene w/o C-H bonds. • Used in U Enrichment Where Normal oils Would React Violently with UF6. • Located in Several Buildings at ETTP Site and Contaminated with Isotopic U. • Required Analysis of Isotopic U by ICP/MS and FTIR to Confirm as MFL Oil.

  20. DU Penetrators – Accelerated Weathering

  21. DU Accelerated Weathering • Penetrators are Corroding – To What? Identified by SEM-EDS, XPS and XRD • Will the Penetrators over Time Leach to Ground Water? • Conflict in the Literature over How Much and How Long. • Solution – Evaluate with ASTM D 5744 “Laboratory Weathering of Solid Materials Using a Humidity Chamber”

  22. DU Accelerated Weathering

  23. Accelerated Weathering • Procedure Includes Controlled Water, Dry Air and Wet Air Purges with a 21 day Cycle for 3 Samples Scraped and Un-scraped + Blank. Completed 20 Cycles to Date. • Water Samples set to Lab for U-Isotopic by Alpha Spectroscopy Analysis. • Results Show Leaching of Uranium

  24. Effect of Stimulus Funding • With the Passage of the Stimulus Bill it Appears that Several Projects that had been Previously Discussed or Bid on were Approved. • Paducah Remediation Services – Air and Workplace Monitoring for Be. • One of Our BJC Task Order Projects was Directly Tied to Stimulus Dollars.

  25. McLinc Contact Information Barry A. Stephenson 865-576-4138 bstephenson@mcl-inc.com www.mcl-inc.com

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