Title: Organic Tank Safety Project: Effect of water partial pressure on the equilibrium water content of waste samples from Hanford Tank 241-U-105

Abstract

Water content plays a crucial role in the strategy developed by Webb et al. to prevent propagating or sustainable chemical reactions in the organic-bearing wastes stored in the 20 Organic Tank Watch List tanks at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Hanford Site. Because of water`s importance in ensuring that the organic-bearing wastes continue to be stored safely, Duke Engineering and Services Hanford commissioned the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to investigate the effect of water partial pressure (P{sub H2O}) on the water content of organic-bearing or representative wastes. Of the various interrelated controlling factors affecting the water content in wastes, P{sub H2O} is the most susceptible to being controlled by the and Hanford Site`s environmental conditions and, if necessary, could be managed to maintain the water content at an acceptable level or could be used to adjust the water content back to an acceptable level. Of the various waste types resulting from weapons production and waste-management operations at the Hanford Site, determined that saltcake wastes are the most likely to require active management to maintain the wastes in a Conditionally Safe condition. Webb et al. identified Tank U-105 as a Conditionally Safe saltcake tank. A Conditionally Safe waste is one thatmore » is currently safe based on waste classification criteria but could, if dried, be classified as {open_quotes}Unsafe.{close_quotes} To provide information on the behavior of organic-bearing wastes, the Westinghouse Hanford Company provided us with four waste samples taken from Tank 241-U-105 (U-105) to determine the effect of P{sub H2O} on their equilibrium water content.« less

Authors:

Scheele, R D; Bredt, P R; Sell, R L

Publication Date:

Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997

Research Org.:

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)

OSTI Identifier:

565577

Report Number(s):

PNNL-11638
ON: DE98051227; TRN: 98:002585

DOE Contract Number:  

AC06-76RL01830

Resource Type:

Technical Report

Resource Relation:

Other Information: PBD: Sep 1997

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

05 NUCLEAR FUELS; HANFORD RESERVATION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND STORAGE; TANKS; REMEDIAL ACTION; MONITORING; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS