Plume-scale testing of a simplified method for detecting tritium contamination in plants and soil
Cost-effective methods are needed to detect contamination near radioactive-waste and other contaminated sites. Such methods should be capable of providing an early warning of contaminant releases and should be accurate and robust enough for assessing the long-term performance of waste-isolation facilities and remediation measures. Recently, a simplified method for detecting tritium contamination in plants and soil was developed (1). The method includes solar distillation of plant water from foliage, followed by filtration and adsorption of scintillation-interfering constituents on a graphite-based solid-phase-extraction column prior to direct-scintillation counting. The objectives of the in-progress study described here are to (i) test the simplified contamination-detection method for collection and analysis of plume-scale tritium data and (ii) gain insight into tritium migration pathways and processes.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2004 |
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Title | Plume-scale testing of a simplified method for detecting tritium contamination in plants and soil |
Authors | Brian J. Andraski, Keith J. Halford, Robert L. Michel |
Publication Type | Conference Paper |
Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
Index ID | 70194904 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Nevada Water Science Center |