Laboratory stabilization/solidification of surrogate and actual mixed-waste sludge in glass and grout

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(99)00237-8· OSTI ID:20018989

Spence, R D; Gilliam, T M; Mattus, C H; Mattus, A J

Grout and glass formulations were developed for the stabilization of highly radioactive tank sludges. These formulations were tested in the laboratory with a surrogate and with a sample of an actual mixed waste tank sludge. The grout formulation was tested at wet-sludge loadings of 50--60 wt%, giving a volume increase of about 40--50 vol%. Dried sludge was vitrified into glass at waste oxide loadings of 40--50 wt%, giving a volume decrease of about 50--60 vol%. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) metals included in surrogate testing were Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl and Hg. Since vitrification would volatilize, not stabilize mercury, it was not included in the surrogates vitrified. The actual sludge sample was only characteristically hazardous for mercury by the toxic characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) but exceeded the Universal Treatment Standard (UTS) limit for chromium. The grout and glass formulations stabilized these RCRA metals within UTS limits. In addition, a group leachability index of about 9--10 was measured for both {sup 85}Sr and {sup 137}Cs, meeting the recommended requirement of >6. The glass leachability index was estimated to be > 18 for cold cesium and strontium.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (US)
• OSTI ID: 20018989
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 7-8 Vol. 19; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BARIUM
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CADMIUM
CESIUM 137
CHROMIUM
GLASS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LEAD
MERCURY
MIXTURES
NICKEL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SELENIUM
SILVER
SLUDGES
SOLIDIFICATION
STABILIZATION
STRONTIUM 85
THALLIUM