Answer to Question #9860 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Disposal — Disposal

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

I need to calculate the amount of 85Sr and 82Sr waste from a CardioGen-82 (82Rb) generator I can dispose of into the sewer system. Is there a formula or a software program for demonstrating compliance with regulations? 

A

The activities of 85Sr and 82Sr present are directly related to the activity of 82Rb extracted from the generator. Therefore, in order to calculate the total volume and quantities allowed to be released into the sewer in accordance with appropriate regulatory mandates, the total quantity of 82Rb that is extracted from the generator on a routine basis must be known.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and agreement states have strict restrictions on the amount of radioactive materials released to the sewer as a disposal mechanism. For the purpose of answering your question, only NRC protocols will be considered. It is important to remember that agreement states may institute requirements that are more, but not less, rigorous than NRC requirements.

NRC provides the requirements for the release of radioactive materials to the sewer as disposal mechanism in 10 CFR 20.2003. In addition, 10 CFR 20, Appendix B Table 3 contains the maximum permissible concentrations that may be released to the sewer per radionuclide on a monthly basis. Precautions shall be implemented to ensure that the concentration of each nuclide release is below those specified in 10 CFR 20, Appendix B, Table 3 and that the matrices containing the radioactive constituents are readily soluble in water. Due to the nature of the process stated in your question, more than a single radionuclide will be generated as waste. Therefore, precautions shall be taken to ensure that the sum of the fractions for each radionuclide does not exceed 1.0. In addition, the maximum total activity that may be released to the sewer is limited to a total of 1 Ci per year for all radionuclides, other than 3H and14C. It is important to point out that discharges of radioactive materials into the sewer is regulated, therefore adequate documentation is required.

Data-management computer software (i.e., Microsoft Excel) may be configured to calculate all the necessary information for regulatory purposes based on your process-specific information and facility needs. Basically you need to know what total volume of water your facility discharges to the sewer every month and then calculate the resulting concentrations for your total activity of the two radionuclides generated every month (including any other radionuclides discharged to the sewer) and compare that to the limit. If it exceeds the limit, you would have to discharge it over more than one month; you could also let it decay in storage until the activity to be discharged falls below the limit.

Manuel Diaz

Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a conversion table. You can also view a diagram to help put the radiation information presented in this question and answer in perspective. Explanations of radiation terms can be found here.
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