A real-time monitor for radioactive liquid waste is being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This detector system is designed to monitor for large changes in alpha activity in a liquid waste stream. The detector is unique in that it monitors the ionization created by alpha interactions with air, using long-range alpha detector (LRAD) technology. This is a non-intrusive method that can be used in various complicated geometries. This technique only allows for the monitoring of the surface of the liquid, however, preliminary tests indicate that the technique should allow for real-time, sensitive monitoring of a well-mixed liquid waste stream. This technique will require further research and development, but the final system should be an inexpensive detector system for segregating and monitoring radioactive liquids at national laboratories, processing facilities, and nuclear power plants
