Radioactive “mixed” waste contains radionuclides and varying quantities of semivolatile and/or volatile organics, some or all of which may be named specifically by the RCRA. They are presently stored above-ground at great cost to the user. Analytical procedures which can identify the presence, or at least confirm the absence, of RCRA organics in radioactive waste are necessary for deciding the proper approaches for disposal.

Our general analytical strategy removes organic species in “mixed” wastes in such a way that transfer of activity is minimized. Analytical equipment and procedures listed in EPA-approved methods are used wherever possible; however, alternative procedures such as solid-phase extraction (for semivolatiles) have been evaluated as reasonable alternatives. Final quantitations are performed on the nonradioactive concentrated extract in conventional organic analytical laboratories using EPA-approved analytical methods.