Mixed waste integrated program problem-oriented technology development

Technical Report · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:121066

Hart, P W ^[1]; Berry, J B ^[2]

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1. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

Is responsible for the management and treatment of its mixed low-level wastes (MLLW). Over the next 5 years, DOE will manage over 1.2 m{sup 3} of MLLW and mixed transuranic (MTRU) wastes. Although technology to treat MLLW is not currently available without modification, DOE is committed to developing such treatment technologies and demonstrating them at the field scale by FY 1997. MWIP advocates and sponsors expedited technology development and demonstrations for the treatment of MLLW. MWIP encourages appropriate public participation in the development and demonstration of its technologies. Therefore, the structure of MWIP reflects the two-pronged approach that is required for mixed waste technology development: (1) demonstration/commercialization-user, stakeholder, and regulator interfaces facilitate technology demonstration and support implementation in a systems context; and (2) technology development. Technology development is ongoing in technical areas required to process mixed waste: materials handling, chemical/physical treatment, waste destruction, off-gas treatment, final forms, and process monitoring/control. MWIP is expediting the development of a suite of technologies to process heterogeneous waste. One robust process is the fixed-hearth plasma-arc process that is being developed to treat a wide variety of contaminated materials with minimal characterization. Additional processes include steam reforming and a catalytic extraction process that uses molten metal technology. Both processes are being demonstrated by the commercial developer of the technology. Advanced off-gas systems are also being developed. Vitrification technologies are being demonstrated for the treatment of homogeneous wastes such as incinerator ash and sludge. An alternative to conventional evaporation for liquid removal-freeze crystallization-is being investigated. Since mercury is present in numerous waste streams, mercury-removal technologies are being developed.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Coll. of Engineering and Mines; New Mexico State Univ., University Park, NM (United States); Waste-Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC), Las Cruces, NM (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 121066
• Report Number(s): CONF-940225--Vol.2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
COMMERCIALIZATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
PLANNING
PLASMA FURNACES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SLUDGES
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
VITRIFICATION