Construction of Flexible Subterranean Hydraulic Barriers in Soil and Rock
- Technologies Co, Sugar Land, Texas (United States)
- Ph.D. Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
In the management of radioactive waste sites, there is sometimes a need to divert infiltration water; or contain or divert contaminated groundwater. This paper discusses several experimental techniques based on super permeating molten wax. Many of the methods are suited to form both vertical or horizontal barriers in-situ in the ground. The first method is based on thermally controlled permeation grouting between drilled holes that produces a very thick barrier in soil, rock, or even fractured rock up to 600 meters deep. The second method is a variation on jet grouting for producing a thin low cost barrier in soil. Also discussed is a technique for forming an infiltration barrier within the surface soil over an underground tank farm and a method for encapsulating a buried waste without excavation. These new methods can produce durable subterranean barriers of high integrity. These barriers are made with a special malleable wax that soaks into the soil or rock matrix. The wax is far more impermeable than clay or cement and can flex and stretch in response to soil movements. The wax contains no water and is not prone to damage from soil moisture changes. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21326108
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-10-WM-08281; TRN: US10V0515067473
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM'08: Waste Management Symposium 2008 - HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Management - Phoenix Rising: Moving Forward in Waste Management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 24-28 Feb 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France; 6 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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