Quantum-catalytic extraction process application to mixed waste processing

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10165240

Herbst, C A ^[1]; Loewen, E P ^[2]; Nagel, C J; Protopapas, A ^[3]

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1. Molten Metal Technology, Fall River, MA (United States)
2. Molten Metal Technology, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
3. Molten Metals Technology, Inc., Waltham, MA (United States)

The Catalytic Extraction Process (CEP) is a flexible and innovative technology which can process hazardous waste streams in a wide range of chemical and physical forms. The capabilities of CEP technology have been demonstrated on a commercial-scale prototype on RCRA listed hazardous waste streams. The results indicate that CEP can achieve almost 100% recycling of feed to commercially valuable products while maintaining high environmental performance. Specifically, CEP achieves Destruction Removal Efficiencies (DREs) {ge} 99.9999% with no detectable amounts of trace components. Furthermore, any solid products are non-leachable. Quantum-CEP{sup TM}, a technology that has evolved from CEP, allows processing of mixed waste streams and preparation for final form disposal. This paper discusses the theoretically achievable and experimentally demonstrated radionuclide partitioning achieved by Quantum-CEP. It also discusses the theoretical foundations and experimental evidence of Quantum-CEP`s flexibility to drive partitioning to the desired phase by manipulating operating conditions, hence significantly improving volume reduction. Specifically, this paper focuses on (i) processing contaminated scrap metal and (ii) processing contaminated ion exchange resins using Quantum-CEP. Radionuclide surrogate demonstrations using CEP outlined in this paper indicate decontamination of metal to greater that 99% (limited by the lower detection limit (LDL)) while achieving stabilization of the vitreous phase. Processing of ion exchange resins contaminated with radioactive cobalt and cesium using CEP indicate complete recovery and concentration of the cobalt in the metal phase and condensation and capture of the cesium from the gaseous phase.

• Research Organization: Molten Metal Technology, Inc., Waltham, MA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL (United States); Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokyo (Japan); International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-93MC30171
• OSTI ID: 10165240
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/30171--94/C0344; CONF-940815--59; ON: DE94014873; BR: EW4020000/EW4035100
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CESIUM 137
COBALT 60
DECONTAMINATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MANGANESE 54
MIXTURES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESINS
SCRAP METALS
WASTE PROCESSING
ZINC 65