LIQUID RADIOACTIVE Definition: Liquids containing quantities of radioactive

material classified into two main categories:

1. Aqueous Radioactive Liquid1
WASTE PROCEDURES 2. Mixed Radioactive Liquid2
STORAGE SAMPLING
1. Liquid waste must be contained as follows: 1. Determine the activity within the container
(activities must be accurately declared).
q Within thick, Nalgene type carboy containers
q Dr. Bruin 000
with no more than 10 liters capacity. Analytical Method.
Medicine
a. Take a (1) ml sample of the liquid waste MBI/10 5-5555
q Do not fill > 90% capacity. b. Analyze with an LSC. Determine the M. Curie 7/4/00
disintegrations per minute (dpm) of the sample. P-32 N/A 25
q Stored and transferred within a secondary
container. The secondary container volume must dpm sample = cpm sample-cpm background
exceed the waste container volume. LSC efficiency
q Marked Caution-Radioactive Material Typical LSC efficiencies:
9
on the primary container. H3 = 0.50 All other beta emitters = 0.95
I-125 = 0.75 Cr-51 = 0.37
CAUTION
c. Multiply by the number of mls in the liquid waste
DR. BRUIN
LA 000 container.
RADIOACTIVE
CHS d. Divide by 2.2 x 106 to obtain the activity in uCi.
CAUTION
MATERIAL

RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL q Running Total Method The sum of the
chemical constituents
H20 8.1
P-32 a. Record the amount (activity) of liquid waste should equal the
Buffer 0.4
placed in the container (each addition). Detergent 0.5
q Identified by isotope. b. When the container is full, sum the total amount of
containers total volume
(listing percentages is 9.0 liters
activity placed in the container. also acceptable).
q The authorized user (AU), LA number, and building 2. List the containers chemical constituents and
should be marked on the container. their volumes on the waste tag.
M. Curie
q Capped at all times when not in use. q Identify any hazardous materials within the
container. (See the Hazardous Materials Table)
2. Liquid radioactive wastes shall be:
3. Complete and sign the waste tag.
q Segregated by isotope. NOTES
4. Prepare for transport 1 Aqueous Radioactive Liquid is liquid waste in which the waste
q Shielded, as necessary. q Use a sturdy cart to transport liquid waste. materials are either dissolved in water or evenly distributed in a
liquid that is mainly composed of water. The following are
3. Prohibited items:
q Verify that adequate secondary containment and aqueous:
Buffers Alcohol up to 24%
q Hazardous Materials (See Hazardous Materials shielding is applied. Salts Some dyes and stains
Table). q Take the waste to the nearest radioactive waste Detergents pH from 5.0 to 9.0
q Liquid with a pH<5 or >9. pickup location at the designated time. Use freight 2 Mixed Radioactive Liquid is liquid waste that is contaminated

q Animal Tissue, Solid Waste, Pipette tips, etc.
q Biohazardous materials must be
neutralized/sterilized prior to disposal.
elevators, if possible.
q Containers are available for return at the next pick-
up at the same location. Otherwise, call the RSD
(x5-5396) to request the return of waste
containers.
with a toxic, flammable, poisonous, or reactive material. This
material is disposed of as a hazardous/radioactive waste: a very
costly combination. UCLA strongly discourages the generation of
mixed waste. When generation of mixed waste is unavoidable, it
must be segregated from non-hazardous aqueous solutions.
Contact the RSD for assistance in managing mixed waste.
2002-12 (Rev 0)