In 1996, a TIRS unit was installed at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in Golden, CO, for monitoring DOE's polymer encapsulation process for immobilizing low-level waste where it allowed very tight control of the encapsulation process. In 1997 work began on adapting TIRS to monitoring plutonium and other radionuclides in molten glass streams during vitrification of high-level wastes and nuclear material. A site test at Savannah River demonstrated the suitability of the analyses to the glass streams. Numerous applications of TIRS to industrial needs are also being pursued. Already, it has been demonstrated as a polymer cure monitor on process lines for a number of manufacturers.
Further applications are forthcoming.
Thus, TIRS validates the integrity of the waste form so that it can be certified, transported and disposed of properly. An Ames Lab technique originally developed for monitoring industrial process streams is now helping DOE improve waste solidification with continuous on-line quality control and documentation.