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Title: Rocky Flats Plant precipitate sludge surrogate vitrification demonstration. Technical Task Plan

Abstract

Technologies are being developed by the US Department of Energy`s (DOE) Nuclear Facility sites to convert hazardous and mixed wastes to a form suitable for permanent disposal. The preferred disposal method would be one that is capable of consistently producing a durable leach resistant wasteform, while simultaneously minimizing disposal volumes. Vitrification, which has been declared the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BDAT) for high-level radioactive waste disposal by the EPA, is capable of producing a highly durable wasteform that minimizes disposal volumes through organic destruction, moisture evaporation, and porosity reduction. However, this technology must be demonstrated over a range of waste characteristics, including compositions, chemistries, moistures, and physical characteristics to ensure that it is suitable for hazardous and mixed waste treatment.

Authors:
;  [1]; ;  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
  2. Clemson Univ., SC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Systems Engineering
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States); Clemson Univ., SC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Systems Engineering
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10182189
Report Number(s):
WSRC-RP-94-00062
ON: DE94018732; TRN: 94:023818
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 17 Jun 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ROCKY FLATS PLANT; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; VITRIFICATION; SLUDGES; PLUTONIUM; CERAMIC MELTERS; DOCUMENTATION; QUALITY ASSURANCE; 052001; WASTE PROCESSING

Citation Formats

Cicero, C.A., Bickford, D.F., Bennert, D.M., and Overcamp, T.J.. Rocky Flats Plant precipitate sludge surrogate vitrification demonstration. Technical Task Plan. United States: N. p., 1994. Web. doi:10.2172/10182189.
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Cicero, C.A., Bickford, D.F., Bennert, D.M., & Overcamp, T.J.. Rocky Flats Plant precipitate sludge surrogate vitrification demonstration. Technical Task Plan. United States. doi:10.2172/10182189.
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Cicero, C.A., Bickford, D.F., Bennert, D.M., and Overcamp, T.J.. Fri . "Rocky Flats Plant precipitate sludge surrogate vitrification demonstration. Technical Task Plan". United States. doi:10.2172/10182189. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10182189.
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@article{osti_10182189,
title = {Rocky Flats Plant precipitate sludge surrogate vitrification demonstration. Technical Task Plan},
author = {Cicero, C.A. and Bickford, D.F. and Bennert, D.M. and Overcamp, T.J.},
abstractNote = {Technologies are being developed by the US Department of Energy`s (DOE) Nuclear Facility sites to convert hazardous and mixed wastes to a form suitable for permanent disposal. The preferred disposal method would be one that is capable of consistently producing a durable leach resistant wasteform, while simultaneously minimizing disposal volumes. Vitrification, which has been declared the Best Demonstrated Available Technology (BDAT) for high-level radioactive waste disposal by the EPA, is capable of producing a highly durable wasteform that minimizes disposal volumes through organic destruction, moisture evaporation, and porosity reduction. However, this technology must be demonstrated over a range of waste characteristics, including compositions, chemistries, moistures, and physical characteristics to ensure that it is suitable for hazardous and mixed waste treatment.},
doi = {10.2172/10182189},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (2.19 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/10182189
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  • ; ; ; ...
    This report describes the first set of experiments performed on transuranic (TRU) precipitation sludge produced in Building 774, to determine the operating parameters for the microwave vitrification process. Toxicity Characteristic Leach Procedure (TCLP) results of the raw sludge showed concentrations of lead, silver and cadmium which were in excess of land disposal restrictions (LDR). Crushed, borosilicate glass was used as a frit source to produce a highly desirable, vitrified, product that required less energy to produce. TCLP testing, of microwaved samples, showed favorable results for 40 and 50% waste loading. The results of this study are encouraging and support themore » development of microwave vitrification technology for the treatment of various mixed waste streams at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. However, additional experiments are required to fully define the operating parameters for a production-scale system.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    Surrogate Oak Ridge Reservation West End Treatment Facility (WETF) sludge was vitrified in a pilot-scale EnVitCo melter at the Clemson University Environmental Systems Engineering Department (ESED) Vitrification Facility. Although much smaller than the Transportable Vitrification System (TVS) melter, this melter is similar in design to the one in the TVS. The TVS was built by EnVitCo for the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) for the treatment of low level and mixed wastes. A total of three tests were done by ESED personnel with guidance from SRTC TVS personnel. The purpose of these tests was to determine what problems might occurmore » during the vitrification of WETF sludge feed in the TVS. The demonstration was successfully completed and the glasses produced passed the TCLP tests for all the hazardous waste components (Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni). An overview of these tests and experimental results on glass container testing, glass pouring, glass product characterization, electrode and refractory wear, and offgas composition and particulate measurements will be given.« less

  • The Mixed Waste Focus Area (MWFA) has chartered the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) to design and fabricate a Transportable Vitrification System (TVS) to demonstrate treatment of Low-Level Mixed Waste (LLMW). This system will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of vitrification on several LLMW streams. The first stream to be demonstrated will be the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) K-25 B&C Pond sludge. Before the demonstrations in the TVS can take place, a surrogate sludge vitrification demonstration had to be performed in the EV-16 melter located at the DOE Industrial Center for Vitrification Research (Center) at the Environmental Systems Engineeringmore » Department at Clemson University. During the demonstration at the Center, a 50 wt% B&C sludge glass composition was tested to determine any processing problems. A total of 1510 pounds (686 kg) of glass were produced from 9328 pounds (4240 kg) of surrogate feed. The resulting glass product was homogeneous and very durable.« less

  • ; ;
    Before disposal, radioactive sludge (Type IV) from Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) must be evaluated for volatile organic compound (VOC) content. The Type IV sludge consists of organic solvents, degreasers, cutting oils, and transuranic (TRU) waste mixed with calcium silicate (MicroCel E{reg_sign}) and Oil Dri{reg_sign} to form a grease or paste-like material. For laboratory testing, a simulated Type IV RFP sludge (nonradioactive) was prepared at Argonne National Laboratory-East. This sludge has a composition similar to that expected from field samples. On the basis of historical information, a typical Type IV sludge is expected to contain approximately 1-10 percent of three targetmore » VOCs. The objective of this work is to evaluate three proposed methods for the determination of high levels of these three VOCs in Type IV sludge. The three methods are (1) static headspace gas analysis, (2) methanol extraction, and (3) ethylene glycol extraction. All three methods employ gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). They were evaluated regarding general method performance criteria, ease of operation, and amounts of secondary mixed waste generated.« less

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