SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Statement of the problem or situation that is being addressed in your application. Remediation of high level waste at nuclear facilities consists of waste retrieval, pretreatment, immobilization through vitrification, and disposal. The proposed technology is an on-line monitoring system that will decrease worker exposure to toxic high level waste by eliminating the need for “grab” sampling during the remediation process and enable accurate non-contact chemical analysis of pretreatment streams to ensure that the vitrification process is successful. General statement of how this problem is being addressed. A multimodal optical sensor will be developed to characterize the composition of chemical waste streams associated with processing high level waste at superfund cleanup sites. The proposed solution is a non-contact, multimodal approach, that includes a high optical throughput Raman spectrometer for molecular analysis coupled with a novel optical sensor that simultaneously measures a samples scattering coefficient (i.e. turbidity). Automated data reduction and multicomponent analysis algorithms will be used to analyze the simultaneous Raman/turbidity data products for real time quantification (both identification and concertation) of target analytes. The proposed approach offers an opportunity to improve current limits of detection by a factor 5. What is to be done in Phase I? The Phase I effort will demonstrate the feasibility of improving the limits of detection from solution samples with representative chemistry and turbidity of Hanford tank waste. Limits of detection will be validated against a comprehensive system model. The system model will be used in the development/refinement of system requirements and the development of a conceptual design for a Phase II prototype. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits. The Raman system is uniquely suited for real-time, non-contact detection and identification of chemical residues such as chemical warfare agents, explosives, pharmaceutical based agents, and toxic industrial chemicals deposited on surfaces. Potential commercial applications of the proposed Raman technology include illicit drug identification by law enforcement, chemical, biological, and explosives detection by first responders, and checkpoint screening at borders, ports, and transportation hubs. Within the defense community, the Raman sensor is relevant to sensitive site exploration and explosive detection by CBRN personnel. Non-defense markets for the proposed Raman technology include precision agriculture, classification of ore material during mining operations and process monitoring in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical industries.
