SwRI Presentations: Land Disposal of TENORM, Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

Technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) is generated by a variety of processes such as:

  • Mineral extractions and refining

  • Hydrocarbon production

  • Water treatment

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has an active program developing cost-effective and environmentally responsible approaches for managing TENORM waste.

 

The SwRI TENORM program currently focuses on land disposal of TENORM waste. Investigations examine release of radon gas from land disposal units, such as municipal solid waste landfills that have or may receive radium-bearing TENORM from drinking water treatment, petroleum production, or other activities. Research includes analysis of the mobility of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil and their uptake by vegetation.
 

image of landfill gas venting, which produces an atmospheric radon plume from buried radium-bearing waste

Landfill gas venting produces an atmospheric radon plume from buried radium-bearing waste.

 

TENORM Expertise

The TENORM program provides expertise and scientific services in:

  • Radiochemistry

  • Environmental process modeling

  • Probabilistic risk assessment

  • Environmental regulatory compliance

  image of SwRI's radiochemistry laboratory that includes facilities for bench-scale testing environmental samples and remedial technologies
 

SwRI's radiochemistry laboratory includes facilities for bench-scale testing environmental samples and remedial technologies.

At SwRI, the TENORM program is supported by:

  • Advanced laboratory facilities for radiochemical analyses and bench-scale testing of radionuclide transport and stabilization processes

  • Public domain and proprietary models for multimedia modeling and probabilistic risk assessment

  • Facilities for large-scale pilot testing of environmental technologies on SwRI's 1,200-acre site

image of radon flux through the surface of a landfill containing TENORM

Radon flux through the surface of a landfill containing TENORM.  The simulation is based on five landfill gas extraction wells.

 

For more information about the TENORM or technologically-enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material program capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Dr. Gary Walter at gwalter@swri.org or (210) 522-3805, or Dr. English Pearcy at epearcy@swri.org or (210) 522-5540.

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.