Oak Ridge National Laboratory Analysis of Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Samples: Integrated Summary Report
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Nondestructive and destructive analytical methods were used to analyze samples of debris collected from the top of R15 C5, the lip of R16 C4, the parent drum, and the continuous air monitor (CAM) and fixed air sampler (FAS) filters in addition to MgO samples collected from the tops of R14 C2, R14 C4, R14 C6 and R16 C4. The analytical evidence supports the conclusion that an exothermic oxidation reaction of Swheat Scoop® by metal nitrate salts produced sufficient quantities of gas to breach drum 68660. The metals and the acidic environment found in drum 68660 are known to accelerate these oxidation reactions. Moreover, the ratio of metal nitrate salts in drum 68660 was in a range in which a low melting eutectic mixture could form, which would also accelerate the oxidation reactions. Nitrated organics were not detected and they are not necessary to produce the exothermic reaction leading to the breach of drum 68660. All the contents of the drum were not consumed and the material ejected from drum 68660 either did not experience temperatures over 200 °C, or their exposure to elevated temperatures was very limited in duration (
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1185998
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/LTR--2015/203
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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