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Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

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Fact Sheets:
AR #196

Innovative Technology
Summary Report

 

Tech ID: 86
Project Overview
Thermogravimetric analysis has been routinely used to measure the amount of water in a sample of radioactive tank waste, but is not the most effective method. Near infrared spectroscopy can improve the quality of results and reduce the time required to perform the analysis. This technology determines the amount of water in waste samples by measuring the optical absorption caused by water in tank wastes. While directly applicable to several Hanford Site tanks, this technology may be useful at other tank sites.

Technology Description
 In a hot cell, a sample of tank waste is exposed to infrared light. Water absorbs some of the infrared energy and produces strong overtone bands in the near infrared optical region. This can be detected with conventional fiber optic and optical components and is recorded using a conventional laboratory infrared system. Numerical analysis techniques are applied to the near infrared spectra to derive a moisture value. The analytical sample spectra are compared to a model that was generated with standard tank waste samples having known concentrations of water. The near infrared technique evaluates moisture content of a sample without consuming part of the sample, provides short turnaround results, and greatly reduces the effort to compare the analysis.

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