Open AccessTank Vapor Characterization Project: Annual status report for FY 1996
Author(s) -
Kurt L. Silvers,
Jonathan S. Fruchter,
J.L. Huckaby,
Teresa Almeida,
June Evans,
K.H. Pool,
C.A. Simonen,
Brenda M. Thornton
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/474840
Subject(s) - sampling (signal processing) , environmental science , waste management , hanford site , truck , methane , municipal solid waste , environmental chemistry , radioactive waste , engineering , chemistry , telecommunications , organic chemistry , detector , aerospace engineering
In Fiscal Year 1996, staff at the Vapor Analytical Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory performed work in support of characterizing the vapor composition of the headspaces of radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Site. Work performed included support for technical issues and sampling methodologies, upgrades for analytical equipment, analytical method development, preparation of unexposed samples, analyses of tank headspaces samples, preparation of data reports, and operation of the tank vapor database. Progress made in FY 1996 included completion and issuance of 50 analytical data reports. A sampling system comparison study was initiated and completed during the fiscal year. The comparison study involved the vapor sampling system (VSS), a truck-based system, and the in situ vapor sampling system (ISVS), a cart-based system. Samples collected during the study were characterized for inorganic, permanent gases, total non-methane organic compounds and organic speciation by SUMMA{trademark} and TST methods. The study showed comparable sampling results between the systems resulting in the program switching from the VSS to the less expensive ISVS methodology in late May 1996. A temporal study was initiated in January 1996 in order to understand the influences seasonal temperatures changes have on the vapors in the headspace of Hanford waste tanks. A holding time study was initiated in the fourth quarter of FY 1996. Samples were collected from tank S-102 and rushed to the laboratory for time zero analysis. Additional samples will be analyzed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 weeks