Recoverable immobilization of transuranic elements in sulfate ash

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865401

Greenhalgh, Wilbur O ^[1]

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1. Richland, WA

Disclosed is a method of reversibly immobilizing sulfate ash at least about 20% of which is sulfates of transuranic elements. The ash is mixed with a metal which can be aluminum, cerium, samarium, europium, or a mixture thereof, in amounts sufficient to form an alloy with the transuranic elements, plus an additional amount to reduce the transuranic element sulfates to elemental form. Also added to the ash is a fluxing agent in an amount sufficient to lower the percentage of the transuranic element sulfates to about 1% to about 10%. The mixture of the ash, metal, and fluxing agent is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the fluxing agent and the metal. The mixture is then cooled and the alloy is separated from the remainder of the mixture.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC14-76FF02170
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4509978
• OSTI ID: 865401
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

recoverable
immobilization
transuranic
elements
sulfate
ash
disclosed
method
reversibly
immobilizing
20
sulfates
mixed
metal
aluminum
cerium
samarium
europium
mixture
amounts
sufficient
form
alloy
plus
additional
amount
reduce
element
elemental
added
fluxing
agent
percentage
10
heated
temperature
melt
cooled
separated
remainder
transuranic element
temperature sufficient
amount sufficient
transuranic elements
fluxing agent
amounts sufficient
sulfate ash
additional amount
/420/423/976/