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*STTR Project: In‑Situ Analytical System for Remote Determination of 90Sr Flux through the Aquifer—Burge Environmental, Inc., 6100 South Maple Avenue, Suite 114, Tempe, AZ 85283-2872; 480-968-5141; www.burgenv.com

Dr. Scott R. Burge, Principal Investigator, burgenv@globalcrossing.net

Dr. Scott R. Burge, Business Official, burgenv@globalcrossing.net

DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-06ER86266

Amount: $747,802

Research Institution

Battelle Memorial Institute

Richland, WA

The long-term monitoring of ground-water contamination plumes to determine the fate of contaminants is expensive and labor intensive. Current baseline methods have resulted in monitoring programs that collect less data than required to fully understand the fate and transport mechanisms of the contaminants. In this project, an automated, field-deployable monitoring system, using a preconcentrating column sensor, will be used to monitor strontium-90 concentrations. The system will be capable of being deployed and operated in the field for several months and will measure strontium-90 concentrations below the regulatory limit of 8 pCi/L. The system will provide more frequent data with less reporting delay at a lower cost than the baseline methods. In Phase I, a prototype analytical system was developed and tested. The system successfully detected strontium-90 below the regulatory limit and appeared to have the necessary attributes for deployment in the field. In Phase II, four systems will be field-deployed to demonstrate the near-real-time estimation of flux through the aquifer.

Commercial Activities and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The system should have immediate application at DOE sites with radiological contaminants. The system should decrease monitoring costs, enhance understanding of the fate of radiologicals in the environment, and ultimately decrease the cost of groundwater remediation activities.