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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Colloidal agglomerates in tank sludge: Impact on waste processing. 1997 annual progress report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/13522· OSTI ID:13522
'Disposal of millions of gallons of existing radioactive wastes is a major remediation problem for the Department of Energy (DOE). Although radionuclides are the most hazardous waste con- stituents. the components of greatest concern from a waste processing standpoint are insoluble sludges consisting of submicron colloidal particles. Depending on processing conditions, these colloidal particles can form agglomerate networks that could clog transfer lines or interfere with solid-liquid separations such as settle-decant operations. Under different conditions, the particles can be dispersed to form very fine suspended particles that will not create sediment in settle- decant steps and that can foul and contaminate downstream treatment components including ion exchangers or filtrations systems. Given the wide range of tank chemistries present at Hanford and other DOE sites, it is impractical to measure the properties of all potential processing conditions to design effective treatment procedures. Instead. a framework needs to be established to allow sludge property trends to be predicted on a sound scientific basis. The scientific principles of greatest utility in characterizing, understanding, and controlling the physical properties of sludge fall in the realm of colloid chemistry. The objectives of this work are to accomplish the following: understand the factors controlling the nature and extent of colloidal agglomeration under expected waste processing conditions determine how agglomeration phenomena influence physical properties relevant to waste processing including rheology, sedimentation. and filtration develop strategies for optimizing processing conditions via control of agglomeration phenomena.'
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Science and Risk Policy
OSTI ID:
13522
Report Number(s):
EMSP-54628--97; ON: DE00013522
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English