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- Author or Editor: K. Wahl x
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Abstract
Ion-pair chromatography was tested for its applicability in determining monobutyl phosphate (MBP) and dibutyl phosphate (DBP), which are degradation products of tributyl phosphate, in Hanford tank wastes. In tests with simulant waste mixtures, tetrahexylammonium bromide, an ion-pairing agent, was used to complex with all three phosphate species. Recovery studies indicated that ion-pairing chromatography is quantitative for determining the analytes in spiked samples. Initial results demonstrated that DBP could be detected easily and was fairly well separated from other peaks, but MBP was frequently lost due to large negative peaks. Then a preconcentration column procedure was used to clean up the waste-sample matrix, and the negative peaks disappeared. Results indicated that 80% of MBP and 90% of DBP could be recovered. Most of the radioactivity was removed from actual waste tank samples so that additional sample preparation could be performed safely in a fume hood rather than a hot cell. Dibutyl phosphate was identified in an actual tank waste, but MBP was not found; this result was confimed by ion chromatography with conductivity detection.
Abstract
Tank wastes are usually very basic, pH>12, and extremely radioactive. An ion exchange method for removing most of the radioactive components has been developed. The sample can then be removed from the hot cell facility to be analyzed for chelator, chelator fragments, and low-molecular weight acids. The use of cation exchange resin in the sample preparation does not introduce or remove any organic carbon.
