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Title: Metal decontamination for waste minimization using liquid metal refining technology

Abstract

The current Department of Energy Mixed Waste Treatment Project flowsheet indicates that no conventional technology, other than surface decontamination, exists for metal processing. Current Department of Energy guidelines require retrievable storage of all metallic wastes containing transuranic elements above a certain concentration. This project is in support of the National Mixed Low Level Waste Treatment Program. Because of the high cost of disposal, it is important to develop an effective decontamination and volume reduction method for low-level contaminated metals. It is important to be able to decontaminate complex shapes where surfaces are hidden or inaccessible to surface decontamination processes and destruction of organic contamination. These goals can be achieved by adapting commercial metal refining processes to handle radioactive and organic contaminated metal. The radioactive components are concentrated in the slag, which is subsequently vitrified; hazardous organics are destroyed by the intense heat of the bath. The metal, after having been melted and purified, could be recycled for use within the DOE complex. In this project, we evaluated current state-of-the-art technologies for metal refining, with special reference to the removal of radioactive contaminants and the destruction of hazardous organics. This evaluation was based on literature reports, industrial experience, plant visits, thermodynamicmore » calculations, and engineering aspects of the various processes. The key issues addressed included radioactive partitioning between the metal and slag phases, minimization of secondary wastes, operability of the process subject to widely varying feed chemistry, and the ability to seal the candidate process to prevent the release of hazardous species.« less

Authors:
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
  2. Carnegie-Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10185498
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-93-3089; CONF-9308150-3
ON: DE93040140; TRN: 93:021711
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Environmentally conscious manufacturing congress `93,Arlington, VA (United States),30 Aug - 1 Sep 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; METALS; DECONTAMINATION; PURIFICATION; MINIMIZATION; LIQUID METALS; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; 052001; WASTE PROCESSING

Citation Formats

Joyce, Jr, E L, Lally, B, Ozturk, B, and Fruehan, R J. Metal decontamination for waste minimization using liquid metal refining technology. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Joyce, Jr, E L, Lally, B, Ozturk, B, & Fruehan, R J. Metal decontamination for waste minimization using liquid metal refining technology. United States.
Joyce, Jr, E L, Lally, B, Ozturk, B, and Fruehan, R J. 1993. "Metal decontamination for waste minimization using liquid metal refining technology". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10185498.
@article{osti_10185498,
title = {Metal decontamination for waste minimization using liquid metal refining technology},
author = {Joyce, Jr, E L and Lally, B and Ozturk, B and Fruehan, R J},
abstractNote = {The current Department of Energy Mixed Waste Treatment Project flowsheet indicates that no conventional technology, other than surface decontamination, exists for metal processing. Current Department of Energy guidelines require retrievable storage of all metallic wastes containing transuranic elements above a certain concentration. This project is in support of the National Mixed Low Level Waste Treatment Program. Because of the high cost of disposal, it is important to develop an effective decontamination and volume reduction method for low-level contaminated metals. It is important to be able to decontaminate complex shapes where surfaces are hidden or inaccessible to surface decontamination processes and destruction of organic contamination. These goals can be achieved by adapting commercial metal refining processes to handle radioactive and organic contaminated metal. The radioactive components are concentrated in the slag, which is subsequently vitrified; hazardous organics are destroyed by the intense heat of the bath. The metal, after having been melted and purified, could be recycled for use within the DOE complex. In this project, we evaluated current state-of-the-art technologies for metal refining, with special reference to the removal of radioactive contaminants and the destruction of hazardous organics. This evaluation was based on literature reports, industrial experience, plant visits, thermodynamic calculations, and engineering aspects of the various processes. The key issues addressed included radioactive partitioning between the metal and slag phases, minimization of secondary wastes, operability of the process subject to widely varying feed chemistry, and the ability to seal the candidate process to prevent the release of hazardous species.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10185498}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}

Conference:
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