PRISM -- Plasma Remediation of In-Situ Materials and its potential for the remediation of Chernobyl consequences
For many years, in-situ thermal vitrification has been recognized as one method to remediate contaminated soils. However, the complexity of the process and the uncertainty of the results have limited the use of this remediation technique. Major technological advances in plasma arc technology now permits in-situ transformation of all soil, rock, and waste types into vitrified material that is durable, strong and highly resistance to leaching. Conceptually, a plasma arc torch can be lowered into a borehole to any depth and operated to melt contaminated materials into a type of magma or lava, which cools into a zone of vitrified material. Subsequently, the plasma torch can be raised and operated at progressively higher levels to thermally convert a mass of soil into a vertical column of vitrified and remediated material. By applying this technique over a systematic grid pattern, the process treats completely all the burial waste or creates around the waste a protective box, the walls and bottom of which consist of vitrified soil. In the report the main features and potential application of PRISM technique are considered to remediate shallow burials of radioactive waste generated during the Chernobyl accident.
- OSTI ID:
- 175909
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9510125-; TRN: 96:003643
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium on environmental technologies: plasma systems and applications, Atlanta, GA (United States), 8-11 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the international symposium on environmental technologies: Plasma systems and applications. Volume 2; Mayne, P.W.; Mulholland, J.A. [eds.] [Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (United States)]; PB: 392 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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