Comparison of organic constituents found in the condensed andvapor phases of tanks 241-BY-108, 241-BY-110, and 241-C-102
Results from vapor and condensed-phase sampling of tanks 241-BY-108, 241-BY-110, and 241-C-102 were reviewed and compared in this report. Both vapor and condensed-phase samples from tanks 241-BY-108 and 241-C-102 indicate the presence of organic solvent. The organic solvent remaining in these tanks are predominantly the heavier fractions of normal paraffin hydrocarbons (NPHS) (i.e., dodecane, tridecane, and tetradecane) and tributyl phosphate (TBP). As was found for the organic solvent in tank 241-C-103, the flash point for the 241-BY-108 and 241-C-102 organic solvent is well above current tank temperatures. Differences between the measured headspace organic vapor concentrations and the organic vapor concentrations estimated from condensed-phase data indicate that the tank headspaces are not in equilibrium with the organic solvent detected in the waste. Non-equilibrium is the result of air flow through these tanks from passive ventilation. This is important because an equilibrium difference allows calculation of effective organic pool size in the tanks. Calculations based on estimated tank ventilation rates and headspace characterization data indicate that tanks 241-BY-108 and 241-C-102 contain significant amounts of organic solvent (i. e., more than a 1 m{sup 2} pool). Tank 24 1 -BY- I I 0 core samples did not contain measurable quantities of NPHs or TBP, though the semivolatile NPHs were observed in tank headspace samples. The total effective surface area of organic solvent in tank 24 1 -BY- I 1 0 is estimated to be less than 1 m{sup 2}; consequently, this tank was not anticipated to contain a significant amount of solvent. An additional observation from the comparison of vapor and condensed-phase sample data is that headspace vapor sampling can detect the presence of organic solvent, even if a surface pool does not exist. Analyses of condensed-phase samples from tank 241-BY-108 show no organic solvent in the top 50 cm of waste. However, the sample segments below 50 cm show NPH and some TBP. This is significant in that vapor sampling can detect solvent which is on the surface or entrained in the waste.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-96RL13200
- OSTI ID:
- 331657
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-EP-0919; ON: DE98058676; BR: EW3120072; TRN: 96000789
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 27 Sep 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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