Dessicant materials screening for backfill in a salt repository

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6444184· OSTI ID:6444184

Simpson, D R

Maintaining an anhydrous environment around nuclear waste stored in a salt repository is a concern which can be alleviated by using a desiccant material for backfilling. Such a desiccant should desiccate a brine yet be non deliquescent, the hydrated product should have moderate thermal stability, and the desiccant should have a high capacity and be readily available. From a literature search MgO and CaO were identified for detailed study. These oxides, and an intimate mixture of the two obtained by calcining dolomite, were used in experiments to further determine their suitability. They proved to be excellent desiccants with a high water capacity. The hydrates of both have moderate thermal stability and a high water content. Both MgO and CaO react in an alkaline chloride brine forming oxychloride compounds with different waters of crystallization. Some of these compounds are the Sorel Cements. CaO hydrates to Ca(OH)/sub 2/ which carbonates with CO/sub 2/ in air to form CaCO/sub 3/ and release the hydrated water. Thus the intimate mixture of CaO and MgO from calcined dolomite may serve as a desiccant and remove CO/sub 2/ from the repository atmosphere.

• Research Organization: Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6444184
• Report Number(s): ONWI-214; TRN: 81-009151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CALCIUM OXIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESICCANTS
DOLOMITE
CALCINATION
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SALT DEPOSITS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
BACKFILLING
BRINES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HYDRATES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WATER
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
DECOMPOSITION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MINERALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage