ANALYSIS OF UNDERGROUND-STORAGE TANK WASTE SIMULANTS BY FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED PHOTOACOUSTIC-SPECTROSCOPY

Underground storage tank waste sludge from nuclear fuel processes is d ifficult to analyze because of the extreme heterogeneity, chemical rea ctivity, and radioactivity of the waste. Conventional methods of analy sis typically require extensive sample handling procedures either to t hin the sample or to separate components prior to analysis. These proc edures are time consuming require radiation containment cells, and inc rease the risk of radiation exposure to lab personnel as a result of t he extensive handling. In this paper a method utilizing Fourier transf orm infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy to analyze hazardous undergrou nd storage tank waste with a minimal amount of sample and sample handl ing is discussed. The method was developed with the use of waste tank simulants that were obtained from the Westinghouse Hanford Company. Em phasis was placed on the determination of disodium nickel ferrocyanide , sodium nitrate, and sodium nitrite because of the concern for the po tential of exothermic reactions occurring between oxidizers and ferroc yanide-containing compounds. This method also allows for the analysis of other ions of interest in waste processes such as sodium sulfate. A simple sample preparation method is also discussed which uses freeze drying to remove water from the simulants while maintaining a uniform sample for analysis.