Waste Residues Characterisation

NNL provides a service to customers to help them understand and characterise wastes and residues stored on nuclear sites. Characterisation is often a requirement prior to transport or processing.

Our Service

Inspection and Sampling

Sampling in the field - NNL has extensive experience of material inspection and sampling gained during the assessment of over 40,000 drums and similar items

In-house sampling - over 5000 drums have been sampled and characterised using NNL's purpose built total enclosure which is equipped with a variety of industrial equipment for drum handling

Characterisation

Instrumental analysis

• X -ray diffraction (XRD) analysis for identification of crystalline phases
• Elemental analysis using "particle mapping" by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and related techniques, for detection and quantification of organic material
• Infra-red (IR) spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry for the identification of organic compounds
• Chemical testing - in some cases, small-scale chemical tests are performed, followed by a variety of instrumental and chemical analysis using our in-house UKAS accredited Measurement and Analysis team

Output

Bulk physical characteristics include:

• Wet, damp or dry
• Free flowing or "sticky"
• Density
• Presence of free liquor, oils, tramp, bags
• Homogeneity or heterogeneity
• Storage container and its condition

 Bulk chemical composition:

• Semi-quantitative for major components
• Qualitative for minor components

Potential processing and material handling issues are highlighted at an early stage, avoiding investment in expensive or inappropriate plant and processes.

Contact

Barney Whyte, Business Leader
t: 019467 79173
m: 07734 784356
e: barney.j.whyte@nnl.co.uk