INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETER INSTALLATION MODIFICATIONS IN A RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATED LABORATORY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DOE RADIOACTIVE-WASTE STREAMS

The operation and maintenance of a complex analytical instrument such as an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in a radioactive co ntaminated environment presents unique problems and challenges that ha ve to be considered in the purchasing and installation process. Consid erations such as vendor experience, typical radiation levels, sample m atrices encountered during sample analysis, instrument accessability f or maintenance, and upkeep must be incorporated into the decision proc ess. The Radioactive Materials Analytical Laboratory (RMAL) at Oak Rid ge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently purchased and installed an indu ctively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for the analysis of Departmen t of Energy (DOE) radioactive waste streams. This presentation will ou tline the purchasing decision, installation of the instrument, and how the modifications needed to operate in a radioactive contaminated lab oratory do not significantly impact the daily operation and maintenanc e requirements of the instrument. Also, a contamination survey of the system will be presented which demonstrates the contamination levels i n the instrument from the sample introduction system to the detector.