Applying Freeze Technology for Characterisation of Liquids, Sludge and Sediment - 16371

Planning of decommissioning activities for objects containing contaminated or potentially contaminated solids below a water table or solids in a water saturated environment requires proper characterisation. One technique for sampling of water saturated objects is the freeze technology. This technology is proven and frequently used for environmental characterization and remediation applications. The design of the sampling tools intended to be used for radiological characterization allows for samples to be taken at specific depths and at specific locations within the contaminated area without disturbing the contaminated material around the sampling location. Using a modified sampling probe, also available, sample cores can be taken which provide a frozen cross-section sample such that an accurate profile of the location and concentration of the contaminants as a function of the depth into the contaminated sludge or sediment is obtained. The same technology can also be scaled up and used to accurately remove contaminated fractions with essentially no cross-contamination with surrounding material. (authors)