LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF WASTE SOLUTIONS ON CONCRETE AND REINFORCING STEEL

Technical Report · Sat May 28 04:00:00 EDT 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1017419· OSTI ID:1017419

JI, DANIEL; DC, START; PH, KAAR

This report has been prepared for the In Situ Waste Disposal Program Tank Assessment Task (WG-11) as part of an investigation to evaluate the long-term performance of waste storage tanks at the Hanford Site. This report, prepared by the Portland Cement Association, presents the results of four years of concrete degradation studies which exposed concrete and reinforcing steel, under load and at 180 F, to simulated double-shell slurry, simulated salt cake solution, and a control solution. Exposure length varied from 3 months to 36 months. In all cases, examination of the concrete and reinforcing steel at the end of the exposure indicated there was no attack, i.e., no evidence of rusting, cracking, disruption of mill scale or loss of strength. Radioactive waste resulting from the chemical processing of reactor fuel for recovery of special nuclear materials (primarily plutonium), has been accumulating at the Hanford Site since 1944. The defense waste is currently being stored in underground waste tanks and in capsules stored in water basins. Current U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) strategy is to emphasize development and implementation of technology for removal, solidification, and final disposition of defense waste at the Savannah River Site first, then at the Hanford Site. Final disposal of waste in tanks at Hanford is expected to consist of in-place stabilization of most tanks. Selected tank wastes may be retrieved. Disposal operations will be carried out during the next several decades. Consequently, defense waste will remain in the existing underground tanks at Hanford for at least several decades. To ensure the safe storage of the waste, the waste storage tanks are being evaluated for continued service as part of the DOE Waste Tank Evaluation Program (AR-005-10-02-G). Technical studies and laboratory tests have been conducted to determine the effect of the stored waste's chemicals and temperature on the reinforced concrete. Waste solutions, which can be chemically aggressive, could come in contact with the reinforced concrete waste tank wall and bottom through breaches in the steel liner. Tests have been conducted to estimate the relative durability of reinforced concrete specimens exposed to two different simulated Hanford waste solutions.- Results of these tests will be used as input to a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of the single-shell tanks for continued storage of radioactive waste. The information is also applicable to the newer double-shell tank designs.

• Research Organization: Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-77RL01030
• OSTI ID: 1017419
• Report Number(s): RHO-RE-CR-8P
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CONCRETES
EVALUATION
IMPLEMENTATION
LIQUID WASTES
NUCLEAR FUELS
PERFORMANCE
PLUTONIUM
PORTLAND CEMENT
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REINFORCED CONCRETE
REMOVAL
SOLIDIFICATION
STABILIZATION
STEELS
STORAGE
TANKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES