SLAC Radioanalysis Laboratory Henry Brogonia Dosimetry and Radiological Protection Group (DREP) DOE Environmental Radiation Protection Program Review (July 23-24, 2007)
Radioanalysis Laboratory Mission To provide high quality, accurate, and timely radiological analysis to SLAC customers and to support SLAC mission and operations. 2
Radioanalysis Laboratory Services Measurements to support the radiological environmental protection program, e.g., characterizing tritium and other radionuclides in environmental samples, providing radiological information for sanitary sewer discharges, facility clean-up and decommissioning Measurements of radionuclides in SLAC accelerator cooling systems Measurements of radionuclides in samples for the Field Operations Group Characterizing radioactive waste for the Radioactive Waste Group 3
Main isotopes at SLAC Radionuclide Material Method of Detection H-3 (low energy beta) Water Liquid Scintillation Counting Be-7 Water, Soil Gamma Spectroscopy Na-22, Co-60, Mn-54, Co-57 Soil and Metals Gamma Spectroscopy 4
Sample profile (1995-2007) Sample Type Number Customer Ground Water 1491 EPD Storm Water 301 EPD Waste Water 3155 CEF Other Water 948 RPD, CEF Other Liquid 1000 RPD, CEF Oil 77 RPD Resin 465 CEF Air Sample 8 RPD Soil 526 RPD Concrete 213 RPD Swipe 669 RPD Miscellaneous 724 RPD Total 9577 ---------- 5
Laboratory Layout LSC Laboratory Area housing two LSC machines, sample storage cabinets and preparation area. 6
Laboratory Layout Gamma Spectroscopy Counting Room housing two HPGe systems with lead caves for low background counting 7
Equipment Inventory Instrument Name Instrument Type Software Radiation monitored Packard Tri-Carb 1900TR Liquid Scintillation Counter Packard Tri Carb Liquid Scintillation Analyzer (MS-DOS) Packard Tri-Carb 3100 Liquid Scintillation Counter Quantasmart Version 2.02 H-3 H-3 ORTEC GEMX HPGe (50%) ORTEC GEM HPGe (40%) n-type, Low Background HPGe Gammavision Version 6.01 Gamma emitting nuclides p-type, Low Background HPGe Gammavision Version 6.01 Gamma emitting nuclides ORTEC Transpec Portable HPGe Gammavision Version 6.01 Gamma emitting nuclides BNC SAM Portable Sodium Iodide BNC Software Version 2.11.01 Gamma emitting nuclides Hach Microdistillation Distillation equipment N/A N/A 8
Sample Analysis Start: Receive sample and Sample Information Sheet. Sign Chain of Custody End: Dispose of Sample Yes Reanalyze Sample? No Release results to customer Sample requires LSC? No Sample requires Gamma Spec? No No Obtain approvals Yes Perform LSC analysis for H-3 Yes Perform Gamma Spectroscopy Results make sense? Yes Enter sample results into database Review sample analysis and QA/QC results 9
Customer SIS SLAC Environmental SAMPLE ID#: L14890 Date Taken: System/ Description _ Taken By: Mail Stop Ext: To request analysis a Sample Information Sheet (SIS) is filled out and a sample label is attached to the container by the customer. 10
COC Log The chain of custody (COC) log is signed by the customer and the operator when the sample is relinquished to the Lab. 11
Analysis Determination For Liquid Scintillation: All liquids H-3 swipes For Gamma Spectroscopy: Positive channel C result from LSC (this channel monitors for any beta/gamma emitters other than H-3) Any sample from waste water systems with historically positive gamma results (i.e., LCW from BDE and HX collimator) Groundwater wells with positive H-3 results Radiological-guarding groundwater wells Oil 12
LSC Preparation and Counting Samples are prepared in 20 ml plastic vials 5 ml sample 15 ml cocktail (Ultima Gold) A Background and two Standard vials are counted with each batch 13
LSC Analysis & Software Background subtraction 3 counting windows Channel A, 0-18.6 kev Channel B, 2-18.6 kev Channel C 18.6-2000 kev Results are printed out Additional Software features 14
LSC Software 15
LSC H-3 Analysis Two protocols LCW (30 min): LCW, Wastewater, Swipes, Oil, etc. Environmental (150 min): Storm water, Groundwater Protocol # Count Time (min) Type of Sample Counted MDA (pci/l) 1 30 LCW, oil, swipes 13 150 Environmental water 1000 500 16
HPGe Gamma Spectroscopy Three counting protocols: Protocol Name Count time (sec) Type of Sample counted Liquid 1000 Water, Oil, Resin, Slurry Soil 1000 Solids Disk 1000 Air Filters, swipes 17
Gammavision Windows based software Sample Description File (SDF) Customizable analysis parameters Calibration Files Libraries Job Files (Macros) Spectrum stripping is available Reprocess 18
HPGe MDA Radionuclide Liquid MDA for water (pci/l) Soil MDA for soil (pci/g) Be-7 1784 2.61 Co-60 270 0.52 Co-57 180 0.32 Mn-54 246 0.31 Na-22 95 0.12 19
Results Results are entered into an Access database Backed up daily Relational database Results must be approved by the Radioanalysis manager prior to release Paperwork is copied and archived 20
Data Entry 21
Data Entry 22
Rad Lab QA/QC The Radioanalysis Laboratory has implemented the following QA/QC: Daily source check and background check prior to use Batch QC (for LSC) Annual calibrations or after major system repair/upgrade Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program (MAPEP) participation (semiannual) For questionable samples, additional QA/QC process such as spiking, split samples for outside independent analysis may be performed 23
Daily QA Daily QA performed prior to use 24
Daily QA 25
Calibrations Calibrations performed annually, or after major repair/upgrade 26
MAPEP Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program Water and Soil Samples sent to SLAC (semiannual) Samples counted as field samples Water distilled prior to H-3 analysis For Gamma Spec, water and soil transferred to 500 ml Nalgene bottle Results are checked against reference 27
MAPEP Results for Series 17 (2007) for both LSC and Gamma Nuclide % Bias for Water % Bias for Soil H-3 (LSC) -1.4 N/A Cs-137 4.9 2.4 Co-57-1.2 2.3 Co-60 7.8 0.8 Mn-54 4.2-0.5 Zn-65-1.6-3.3 28
Sample Storage Samples are stored in seismic proof cabinets (1 year max) 29
Sample Disposal 30
Summary The laboratory has the necessary equipment to support SLAC operations Laboratory personnel are well trained The program and counting process are documented The counting protocols meet EPA 906.0 Established QA/QC program 31