Los Alamos at work -- science and technology initiatives for countering nuclear and radiological threats

Contact: Kathy DeLucas, duke@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9203 (03-120)

Contact: Kevin Roark, knroark@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 5, 2003 -- Even before the tragic events of September 11, 2001, researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory were applying cutting-edge science and technology to real and potential challenges to our national security. In an American Chemical Society presentation at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 7 Los Alamos staff member Tammy Taylor will talk about some of the latest work being done at Los Alamos in the area of nuclear and radiological threat mitigation.

Taylor will discuss specific examples of active areas of research and development at Los Alamos National Laboratory related to nuclear and radiological threat identification, preventative measures, and threat detection, as well as effective incident response capabilities.

Taylor's examples will range from consequence management tools, including educational materials for first-responders, to new developments in decontamination and mitigation technologies. Specifically, her talk will focus on technologies or strategies being be developed at Los Alamos to mitigate threats from Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD), including:

Sensorcoat

Sensorcoat is a paint-like material for mitigating RDD incidents that can be sprayed on contaminated surfaces, left to dry and then peeled off carrying the radiological contaminants along with it. As the water-soluble spray immobilizes radioactive particulates, it detects specific areas contaminated by uranium and plutonium by changing colors. This color test feature can also be adapted for use in detecting other similar radioactive materials. The spray contains no chlorides or toxic materials. Sensorcoat was originally developed for decontamination work within the Department of Energy complex and has been used on highly contaminated glove boxes at Los Alamos.

Polymer Filtration for decontamination

The application of Los Alamos' award-winning polymer filtration technology for RDD decontamination involves the use of water-soluble polymers, which exhibit selective binding to various radionuclides, like americium, plutonium, cobalt, and others, in order to remove radionuclides from contaminated surfaces. The polymers are applied as a water solution, or in foams, onto the contaminated surface. The selective polymers bind to the contaminates where they are collected and concentrated using portable ultra-filtration membranes. The polymers are retained and the water, now free of contaminates, is allowed to pass through the membrane and return to the environment. Polymer filtration has been demonstrated in treating surfaces and solids for various applications including mercury recovery from contaminated debris, recovery of lead from contaminated soils and in the recovery of copper from ore using solution mining.

Solidifying cesium-137

Taylor also will discuss a strategy for the modification to cesium-137, or cesium chloride, a silvery-white, radioactive salt widely used in moisture-density, leveling, and thickness gauges in industry. The light nature and solubility of the powder means it can be easily dispersed both through air and water. The modification strategy involves heating cesium-137 sources and cooling them into a glass-like masses in the same shape and size as the original source, or spherical beads, which are less easily fragmented during an explosion. Because cesium sources now in use in industry can be quickly and easily replaced with these solid forms, the strategy is an practical interim measure against the use of cesium-137 in a RDD.

Taylor's presentation will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003 at the Javits Convention Center in New York, NY. Other members of Taylor's team include: Sara Scott, Julie Canepa, Naomi Becker, Caroline Mason and Brian Rees, all of Los Alamos.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring safety and confidence in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction and improving the environmental and nuclear materials legacy of the cold war. Los Alamos' capabilities assist the nation in addressing energy, environment, infrastructure and biological security problems.

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