Carbon dioxide cleaning pilot project
In 1989, radioactive-contaminated metal at the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) was cleaned using a solvent paint stripper (Methylene chloride). One-third of the radioactive material was able to be recycled; two-thirds went to the scrap pile as low-level mixed waste. In addition, waste solvent solutions also required disposal. Not only was this an inefficient process, it was later prohibited by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 40 CFR 268. A better way of doing business was needed. In the search for a solution to this situation, it was decided to study the advantages of using a new technology - pelletized carbon dioxide cleaning. A proof of principle demonstration occurred in December 1990 to test whether such a system could clean radioactive-contaminated metal. The proof of principle demonstration was expanded in June 1992 with a pilot project. The purpose of the pilot project was three fold: (1) to clean metal so that it can satisfy free release criteria for residual radioactive contamination at the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP); (2) to compare two different carbon dioxide cleaning systems; and (3) to determine the cost-effectiveness of decontamination process in a production situation and compare the cost of shipping the metal off site for waste disposal. The pilot project was completed in August 1993. The results of the pilot project were: (1) 90% of those items which were decontaminated, successfully met the free release criteria , (2) the Alpheus Model 250 was selected to be used on plantsite and (3) the break even cost of decontaminating the metal vs shipping the contaminated material offsite for disposal was a cleaning rate of 90 pounds per hour, which was easily achieved.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC34-90RF62349
- OSTI ID:
- 10118529
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-4803; CONF-940225-12; ON: DE94005931; BR: GB0305043; TRN: 94:003520
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste management `94: working towards a cleaner environment,Tucson, AZ (United States),27 Feb - 3 Mar 1994; Other Information: PBD: 21 Jan 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
CARBON DIOXIDE
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
METALS
DECONTAMINATION
SOLVENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
COST
052002
320305
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE
INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT