Process for removing and detoxifying cadmium from scrap metal including mixed waste

Conference · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10168385

Kronberg, J W

Cadmium-bearing scrap from nuclear applications, such as neutron shielding and reactor control and safety rods, must usually be handled as mixed waste since it is radioactive and the cadmium in it is both leachable and highly toxic. Removing the cadmium from this scrap, and converting it to a nonleachable and minimally radioactive form, would greatly simplify disposal or recycling. A process now under development will do this by shredding the scrap; leaching it with reagents which selectively dissolve out the cadmium; reprecipitating the cadmium as its highly insoluble sulfide; then fusing the sulfide into a glassy matrix to bring its leachability below EPA limits before disposal. Alternatively, the cadmium may be recovered for reuse. A particular advantage of the process is that all reagents (except the glass frit) can easily be recovered and reused in a nearly closed cycle, minimizing the risk of radioactive release. The process does not harm common metals such as aluminum, iron and stainless steel, and is also applicable to non-nuclear cadmium-bearing scrap such as nickel-cadmium batteries.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 10168385
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS-94-0133; CONF-940748-20; ON: DE94015565; TRN: 94:015454
• Resource Relation: Conference: 35. annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM),Naples, FL (United States),17-20 Jul 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
CADMIUM
SCRAP METALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
CADMIUM 113
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
052001
400102
054000
WASTE PROCESSING
CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL PROCEDURES
HEALTH AND SAFETY