Investigation into the chemical, thermal and radiological changes of organic chemicals added to the underground storage tanks at Hanford
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States); and others
Uranium and plutonium production at the Hanford site produced large quantities of radioactive by-products and contaminated process chemicals that are presently stored in underground tanks awaiting treatment and disposal. Having been made strongly alkaline and then subjected to successive water evaporation campaigns to increase storage capacity, the wastes now exist in the physical forms of salt cakes, metal oxide sludges, and saturated aqueous brine solutions. Those waste storage tanks containing organic process chemicals mixed with nitrate/nitrite salt wastes are thought to be at risk for fuel-nitrate combustion accidents. To support resolution of this potential hazard, we are studying how organic chemicals added to the tanks may have {open_quotes}aged{close_quotes} or changed under storage conditions. Simulated wastes have been irradiated with gamma rays at temperatures between ambient and 90{degrees}C and subsequently analyzed quantitatively. The presentation will report findings on the rates and products of organic degradation. Reaction mechanisms and implications of the findings will be discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 370546
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960376-; TRN: 96:003805-0600
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Spring national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), New Orleans, LA (United States), 24-28 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 211th ACS national meeting; PB: 2284 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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