Mixed Waste Salt Encapsulation Using Polysiloxane - Final Report
A proof-of-concept experimental study was performed to investigate the use of Orbit Technologies polysiloxane grouting material for encapsulation of U.S. Department of Energy mixed waste salts leading to a final waste form for disposal. Evaporator pond salt residues and other salt-like material contaminated with both radioactive isotopes and hazardous components are ubiquitous in the DOE complex and may exceed 250,000,000 kg of material. Current treatment involves mixing low waste percentages (less than 10% by mass salt) with cement or costly thermal treatment followed by cementation to the ash residue. The proposed technology involves simple mixing of the granular salt material (with relatively high waste loadings-greater than 50%) in a polysiloxane-based system that polymerizes to form a silicon-based polymer material. This study involved a mixing study to determine optimum waste loadings and compressive strengths of the resultant monoliths. Following the mixing study, durability testing was performed on promising waste forms. Leaching studies including the accelerated leach test and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure were also performed on a high nitrate salt waste form. In addition to this testing, the waste form was examined by scanning electron microscope. Preliminary cost estimates for applying this technology to the DOE complex mixed waste salt problem is also given.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-94ID13223
- OSTI ID:
- 5724
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/EXT-97-01234; TRN: US0101685
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Nov 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ENCAPSULATION
GROUTING
SETTLING PONDS
WASTE FORMS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
SILOXANES
LOADING RATE
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
CORROSION RESISTANCE
LEACHING
TOXICITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
POLYSILOXANE GROUTING MATERIAL
MIXED WASTE SALTS
FINAL WASTE FORM
DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES
HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS
THERMAL TREATMENT
CEMENTATION
SILICON-BASED POLYMER MATERIAL
OPTIMUM WASTE LOADINGS
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTHS
MONOLITHS
ACCELERATED LEACH TEST
TOXICITY CHARACTERISTIC LEACHING PROCEDURE