Mediated electrochemical oxidation of Rocky Flats combustible low level mixed wastes

Conference · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10138905

Chiba, Z

Mediated Electrochemical Oxidation (MEO) was originally developed for dissolution of difficult to dissolve forms of plutonium oxide. It was also found to be effective for oxidizing non-polymerized organic materials. MEO is an inherently safe process since the hazardous and radioactive materials are completely contained in the aqueous phase, and operating temperatures and pressures of the system are low (well below 100 {degree}C and 30 psig). The most commonly used mediator-electrolyte combination is silver in nitric acid. The process produces divalent silver ion, a strong oxidizing agent, which dissolves the radioactive components of mixed wastes and destroys the organic components. In the past, work at LLNL has been focused on understanding the basic science and modeling the dissolution and destruction mechanisms. Reaction rates of water with Ag(H) were measured using spectrophotometric methods, and the diffusivity of silver ions in nitric acid was estimated using a rotating disk electrode.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10138905
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--112396; CONF-930160--11; ON: DE93009224
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISSOLUTION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MIXTURES
NITRIC ACID
OXIDATION
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
SILVER
WASTE PROCESSING