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Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 12-1-2012 Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials Thomas Joseph O'dou University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, and the Radiochemistry Commons Repository Citation O'dou, Thomas Joseph, "Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials" (2012). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1765. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/4332746 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RECYCLING AND REUSE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS by Thomas Joseph O’Dou Bachelor of Science in Radiological Health Physics Lowell Technological Institute 1974 Master of Science in Radiological Science and Protection University of Lowell 1981 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Radiochemistry Department of Chemistry College of Science Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December, 2012 Copyright by Thomas Joseph O’Dou 2012 All Rights Reserved THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend the dissertation prepared under our supervision by Thomas O’Dou entitled Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Materials be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Radiochemistry Department of Chemistry Kenneth Czerwinski, Ph.D., Committee Chair Larry Tirri, Ph.D., Committee Member Gary Cerefice, Ph.D., Committee Member Jacimaria Batista, Ph.D., Graduate College Representative Tom Piechota, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Research & Dean of the Graduate College December 2012 ii ABSTRACT Recycling and Reuse of Radioactive Material by Thomas Joseph O’Dou Dr. Kenneth Czerwinski, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Chemistry University of Nevada, Las Vegas The Radiochemistry Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has a Radiation Protection Program that was designed to provide students with the ability to safely work with radioactive materials in quantities that are not available in other academic environments. Requirements for continuous training and supervision make this unique program capable of turning out graduates that have an understanding of contamination and dose control techniques that complement their knowledge of the elements that they work with. The Program has also adopted a radionuclide recovery and reuse program that has provided materials from other universities, government agencies, and private companies for use in experiments. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work and all of the course work that was required was done at the loving request of my mother Lena Barbara O’Dou. I owe my deepest gratitude to mom for her devotion to my education and enabling me to select a career that I love. This work is dedicated to her, my dad, Thomas Gerald O’Dou, and my sister Dona Lee O’Dou who together with mom provided love and all of the needs for me to grow and prosper. The time to accomplish this work was provided to me by my loving wife Dixie Jane O’Dou to whom I am forever grateful. She is the spirit that makes me want to live forever with her, smile every minute of every day, and learn as much as it is possible to learn. I am indebted to my professors who over the years have taught me the discipline of learning. My professors of the past; Dr. Ken Skrable and Dr. Tony Liuzzi, and recent professors and colleagues; Dr. Kenneth Czerwinski, Dr. Gary Cerefice, Dr. Ralf Sudowe, Dr. Philip Patton, Dr. Patricia Paviet-Hartmann, Dr. Vernon Hodge, Dr. Frederic Poineau, Dr. David Waite, and Dr. Larry Tirri, have all planted great seeds of knowledge and opportunity in my life. Lastly, some great friends assisted me in activities at the Harry Reid Center, Trevor Low, Michelle Bossler, and Julie Bertoia and the students of the UNLV Radiochemistry program from the beginning. Thank you for your help, friendship, and confidence! Thomas Joseph O’Dou iv Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................ ix List of Figures ................................................................................................ x List of Equations .......................................................................................... xi List of Appendices ....................................................................................... xii 1. CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................... 1 RECOVERY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS FOR REUSE .............................. 1 RESEARCH OVERVIEW ................................................................................ 1 1.0 Radionuclides Used in the UNLV Radiochemistry Program .................... 1 1.1 Sources for Procurement of Radionuclides for Experiments................... 4 1.2 Disposal of Radioactive Material ............................................................ 6 1.3 Use of Radioactive Materials in Experiments ......................................... 9 1.4 Residue Recycling ............................................................................... 12 1.5 Recovery Methods ............................................................................... 16 1.6 Donated Material ................................................................................ 18 1.7 Thesis Preview ..................................................................................... 24 2. CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................. 27 RADIATION SAFETY FOR A RADIOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM ........................ 27 2.0 Introduction – Design Considerations for Radiochemistry ................... 27 2.1 Radiation Laboratory Design Hypothesis ............................................. 31 2.1.1 Challenges in Laboratory Use and Design ........................................ 32 2.1.2 Actions Taken to Improve Facility Use and Design ........................... 33 2.2 Development of the Radiation Safety Culture Hypothesis .................... 41 2.2.1 Challenges in Safety Culture Development - Incidents ..................... 42 2.2.2 Actions Taken In Response to Incidents ........................................... 44 2.3 Training the Participants Hypothesis................................................... 48 2.3.1 Initial Development and Evolution of the Training Program .............. 48 2.4 Communication of Program Ideals Hypothesis .................................... 56 2.4.1 Key Indicators and Tracking Performance ........................................ 58 2.5 Radioactive and Hazardous Waste in Radiochemistry .......................... 61 2.5.1 Challenges in the Creation of Mixed Waste ....................................... 62 2.5.2 Actions Needed to Control Mixed Waste............................................ 63 v 2.6 Administrative Controls Hypothesis .................................................... 65 2.6.1 Program Control - Administration .................................................... 65 2.6.2 User Designation and Support ......................................................... 66 2.6.3 Transportation Challenges ............................................................... 68 2.6.3.1 Actions to Support Relocation of Materials .................................... 69 2.6.4 Planning Experiments with Radioactive Materials ............................ 69 2.6.4.1 Work Planning Challenges ............................................................. 70 2.6.4.2 Actions Taken to Support Work Planning ...................................... 71 2.6.5 Surveys and Monitoring Hypothesis ................................................. 73 2.6.5.1 Challenges to Surveys and Monitoring .......................................... 73 2.6.5.2 Considerations for Surveying Radiochemistry Areas ...................... 74 2.6.6 Identifying Non-Compliance ............................................................. 78 2.6.6.1 Challenges to Compliance with License Conditions ....................... 78 2.6.6.2 Actions Taken to Avoid Non-Compliance ....................................... 80 2.6.6 Emergency Preparedness ................................................................. 81 2.6.7 Radioactive Material Security ........................................................... 82 2.7 Management ....................................................................................... 84 2.7.1 Management Challenges in Radiochemistry ..................................... 84 2.7.2 Actions to Facilitate Management Support ....................................... 85 2.7.3 Perceptions of Work with Radioactive Materials ................................ 88 2.7.4 Visitors to the Radiochemistry Laboratories ....................................
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