Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

An investigation of radioactively contaminated wastewater reclamation plant biosolids

Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/2801pj71g

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Within the last 15 years, wastewater treatment plants have increasingly begun to find radioactive isotopes incorporated in biosolids. Regulations concerning the disposal of radioactive material via sanitary sewer systems were in place since the early 1960's and recently were further restricted. However, the updated regulations would not have prevented certain contamination cases, which may predict future incidents and additional government restrictions. As a result, general procedures were created to investigate gross alpha, gross beta and gamma radionuclide concentrations in local wastewater reclamation plant biosolids. The US Environmental Protection Agency procedures for determining radionuclides in drinking water supplied the foundations for the tests. Supplementing the procedures, separate alpha and beta transmission curves were generated to account for detector efficiency and alpha and beta attenuation factors. The curves were designed to be effective for any gas flow proportional counter. By consulting the curves and following the procedures, 0.0 +/- 1.4 pCi/ml of gross alpha and 0.3 +/- 7.7 pCi/ml of gross beta were measured in Corvallis Wastewater Reclamation Plant sludge. A gamma spectroscopy analysis discovered small amounts of ¹³¹I and ⁷Be at 0.11 +/- 0.01 pCi/liter and 0.96 +/- 0.08 pCi/liter, respectively. These values were in agreement with past studies. Future government course of action regarding radioactive materials in biosolids remains uncertain, although with this study's help, Oregon State University and the State of Oregon will be prepared for future regulatory changes.
Resource Type
Date Available
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Academic Affiliation
Non-Academic Affiliation
Subject
Rights Statement
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Digitization Specifications
  • File scanned at 300 ppi (Monochrome) using ScandAll PRO 1.8.1 on a Fi-6770A in PDF format. CVista PdfCompressor 4.0 was used for pdf compression and textual OCR.
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details BrannanJrCThomas1997.pdf 2017-08-03 Public Download