Treating water-reactive wastes

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10156336

Lussiez, G W

Some compounds and elements, such as lithium hydride, magnesium, sodium, and calcium react violently with water to generate much heat and produce hydrogen. The hydrogen can ignite or even form an explosive mixture with air. Other metals may react rapidly only if they are finely divided. Some of the waste produced at Los Alamos National Laboratory includes these metals that are contaminated with radioactivity. By far the greatest volume of water-reactive waste is lithium hydride contaminated with depleted uranium. Reactivity of the water-reactive wastes is neutralized with an atmosphere of humid nitrogen, which prevents the formation of an explosive mixture of hydrogen and air. When we adjust the temperature of the nitrogen and the humidifier, the nitrogen can be more or less humid, and the rate of reaction can be adjusted and controlled. Los Alamos has investigated the rates of reaction of lithium hydride as a function of the temperature and humidity, and, as anticipated, they in with in temperature and humidity. Los Alamos will investigate other variables. For example, the nitrogen flow will be optimized to conserve nitrogen and yet keep the reaction rates high. Reaction rates will be determined for various forms of lithium waste, from small chips to powder. Bench work will lead to the design of a skid-mounted process for treating wastes. Other water-reactive wastes will also be investigated.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10156336
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--93-1204; CONF-930873--9; ON: DE93012661
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPLETED URANIUM
HUMIDIFIERS
HYDROGEN
HYDROXIDES
IGNITION
LANL
LITHIUM HYDRIDES
MAGNESIUM
NITROGEN
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SODIUM
SYNTHESIS
THERMOCOUPLES
THERMODYNAMICS
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER