A new waste minimization method for the determination of total nonhalogenated volatile organic compounds in TRU wastes

As part of the technical support CST-12 provides for a wide variety of defense and nondefense programs within Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) complex, new waste minimization technique is under development for radiological volatile organic analysis (Hot VOA). Currently all Hot VOA must be run in a glovebox. Several types of samples contain TRU radiological waste in the form of particulates. By prefiltering the samples, through a 1.2 micron syringe and counting the radioactivity, it has been found that many of the samples can be analyzed outside of a glovebox. In the present investigation, the types of Hot VOA samples that can take advantage of this new technique, the volume and types of waste reduced, and the experimental parameters will be discussed. Overall, the radioactive waste generated is minimized.