United States Office of Air and Radiation EPA-402-R-06-003 Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 March 2006 Technology Reference Guide for Radiologically Contaminated Surfaces Technology Reference Guide for Radiologically Contaminated Surfaces EPA-402-R-06-003 April 2006 Project Officer Ed Feltcorn U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Radiation Protection Division This page intentionally left blank. Technology Reference Guide for Radiologically Contaminated Surfaces U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Radiation Protection Division Center for Radiation Site Cleanup EnDyna, Inc. Under Contract No. 4W-2324-WTSZX This page intentionally left blank i Disclaimer This Technology Guide, developed by USEPA, is meant to be a summary of information available for technologies demonstrated to be effective for radioactive surface decontamination. Inclusion of technologies in this Guide should not be viewed as an endorsement of either the technology or the vendor by USEPA. Similarly, exclusion of any technology should not be viewed as not being endorsed by USEPA; it merely means that the information related to that technology was not so readily available during the development of this Guide. Also, the technology-specific performance and cost data presented in this document are somewhat subjective as they are from a limited number of demonstration projects and based on professional judgment. In addition, all images used in this document are from public domain or have been used with permission. ii Acknowledgments This manual was developed by the Radiation Protection Division of EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. Mr. Edward Feltcorn served as the Project Manager. Several individuals provided valuable input on the content of this Guide throughout its development. Special acknowledgement and appreciation are extended to Ms. Schatzi Fitz-James and Mr. Ronald Wilhelm of ORIA’s Radiation Protection Division, Mr. Jami Rodgers of EPA’s Administrative Contract Service Center, Mr. Larry Boing of Argonne National Laboratory, and Mr. Rick Demmer of Idaho National Laboratory. Individuals inside and outside EPA who provided peer review are: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ms. Robin M. Anderson Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation Ms. Lindsey Bender Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Mr. Michael C. Eagle Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Ms. Schatzi Fitz-James Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Mr. Roger Goodman Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Mr. Brian Littleton Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Mr. Reid J. Rosnick Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Mr. Stuart Walker Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation Mr. Ronald Wilhelm Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Idaho National Laboratory Mr. Rick L. Demmer State of Tennessee Mr. Robert Storms Technical support was provided by EnDyna, Inc., under Contract 4W-2324-WTSX, managed by Dr. Smita Siddhanti and supported by Dr. Ian Tasker. iii Preface This Technology Reference Guide for Radiologically Contaminated Surfaces (Guide) is designed to help interested parties identify technologies that are potentially useful in removing radiological contaminants from surfaces as part of a site remediation. The Guide is a snapshot in time and may be updated in the future. If you have any comments on the document or suggestions for incorporation in future updates, please contact: Mr. Edward Feltcorn U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Radiation Protection Division 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC 6608J) Washington, DC 20460-0001 U.S. Phone: (202) 343-9422 FAX: (202) 343-2306 E-mail: [email protected] . iv Table Of Contents List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................xi Executive Summary ................................................................xiv Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose ..................................................................... 2 1.2 Regulatory Background ....................................................... 4 1.3 Technical Approach/Document Development ..................................... 5 1.4 Organization and Use of the Guide .............................................. 5 Chapter 2. Chemical Decontamination 2.1 Introduction to Chemical Decontamination ...................................... 11 2.2 Chelation and Organic Acids 2.2.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 14 2.2.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 16 2.2.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 16 2.2.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 16 2.2.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 17 2.2.6 Performance............................................................ 18 2.2.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 18 2.2.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 18 2.3 Strong Mineral Acids and Related Materials 2.3.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 19 2.3.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 21 2.3.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 21 2.3.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 21 2.3.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 22 2.3.6 Performance............................................................ 22 2.3.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 22 2.3.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 22 2.4 Chemical Foams and Gels 2.4.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 23 2.4.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 24 2.4.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 24 2.4.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 24 2.4.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 24 2.4.6 Performance............................................................ 25 2.4.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 25 2.4.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 25 2.5 Oxidizing and Reducing (REDOX) Agents 2.5.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 26 2.5.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 27 2.5.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 27 v 2.5.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 28 2.5.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 28 2.5.6 Performance............................................................ 28 2.5.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 29 2.5.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 29 2.6 TechXtract 2.6.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 30 2.6.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 31 2.6.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 31 2.6.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 31 2.6.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 31 2.6.6 Performance............................................................ 32 2.6.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 33 2.6.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 35 Chapter 3. Physical Decontamination 3.1 Introduction to Physical Decontamination ....................................... 36 3.2 Strippable Coatings 3.2.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 38 3.2.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 38 3.2.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 39 3.2.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management ...................................... 39 3.2.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 39 3.2.6 Performance............................................................ 39 3.2.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 40 3.2.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 41 3.3 Centrifugal Shot Blasting 3.3.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 42 3.3.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 43 3.3.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 43 3.3.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 43 3.3.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 43 3.3.6 Performance............................................................ 44 3.3.7 Capital and Operating Costs ............................................... 46 3.3.8 Commercial Availability .................................................. 48 3.4 Concrete Grinder 3.4.1 Description of Technology ................................................ 49 3.4.2 Target Contaminants ..................................................... 49 3.4.3 Applicable Media and Surface Characteristics . 49 3.4.4 Waste Streams and Waste Management Issues . 50 3.4.5 Operating Characteristics.................................................. 50 3.4.6 Performance............................................................ 50 3.4.7