Waste Resources Utilization Program. Progress report, period ending September 30, 1975

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:4121238

The purpose of the Waste Resources Utilization Program is to develop a technology to constructively couple two major environmental problems, disposition of human and nuclear waste, in an attempt to provide a framework in which both will become useful resources. Sludge treated with thermoradiation offers considerable potential for use as a fertilizer in agriculture or a soil conditioner for land reclamation free of the serious potential health hazards associated with conventional methods of land disposal. In addition, the very real possibility exists that treated sludge may provide a low-cost substitute for high-nutritional components in ruminant diets. The liter size flow-through system is put into operation for the first time and provides sufficient quantities of treated sludge for good biological analysis and to start the animal feeding program at New Mexico State University. Approximately 3800 gal of sewage sludge were thermoradiation-treated with the system. The sludge was exposed to approximately 150 krads of gamma radiation at a temperature of 65$sup 0$C. The treated sludge was monitored for elimination of total coliforms and fecal strep. No fecal strep bacteria were found in 400 sample plates; three contained coliform growth. An intensive study of poliovirus inactivation in sewage sludge was completed this quarter. Source efficiencies were calculated for possible modification to the WESF capsule which would consist of inserting a hollow tube in the center of the capsule. This was proposed as a simple modification to the standard WESF capsule to reduce the self-shielding characteristic of the cesium. The calculations showed little or no advantage of adding the center tube. (TFD)

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(29-1)-789
• NSA Number: NSA-33-017294
• OSTI ID: 4121238
• Report Number(s): SAND-75-0580
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N47323* -Isotope & Radiation Source Technology-Radiation Sources-Industrial Uses-Other Industrial Processing
N48340 -Life Sciences-Radiation Effects on Microorganisms-Vaccine Preparation & Other Applications
070204* -Isotope & Radiation Source Technology-Radiation Sources-Other Industrial Uses
*POLIO VIRUS- BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*RADIOACTIVE WASTES- USES
*SEWAGE SLUDGE- RADIOSTERILIZATION
ANIMAL FEEDS
CESIUM 137
COBALT 60
LIQUID WASTES