Superconducting open-gradient magnetic separation for the pretreatment of radioactive or mixed waste vitrification feeds. 1997 annual progress report
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
- Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (US). Savannah River Technology Center
- Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (US). Chemical Engineering Dept.
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (US). Nuclear Engineering Dept.
'Vitrification has been selected as a final waste form technology in the US for long-term storage of high-level radioactive wastes (HLW). However, a foreseeable problem during vitrification in some waste feed streams lies in the presence of elements (e.g., transition metals) in the HLW that may cause instabilities in the final glass product. The formation of spinel compounds, such as Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and FeCrO{sub 4}, results in glass phase separation and reduces vitrifier lifetime, and durability of the final waste form. A superconducting open gradient magnetic separation (OGMS) system maybe suitable for the removal of the deleterious transition elements (e.g. Fe, Co, and Ni) and other elements (lanthanides) from vitrification feed streams due to their ferromagnetic or paramagnetic nature. The OGMS systems are designed to deflect and collect paramagnetic minerals as they interact with a magnetic field gradient. This system has the potential to reduce the volume of HLW for vitrification and ensure a stable product. In order to design efficient OGMS and High gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) processes, a fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical properties of the waste feed streams is required. Using HLW simulant and radioactive fly ash and sludge samples from the Savannah River Technology Center, Rocky Flats site, and the Hanford reservation, several techniques were used to characterize and predict the separation capability for a superconducting OGMS system.'
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (US); Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Savannah River Technology Center, Aiken, SC (US); Univ. of South Carolina, Chemical Engineering Dept., Columbis, SC (US); Univ. of Texas, nuclear Engineering Dept., Austin, TX (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Science and Risk Policy
- OSTI ID:
- 13505
- Report Number(s):
- EMSP-55294-97; ON: DE00013505
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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