Acid digestion: a new method for treatment of nuclear waste

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · Westinghouse Eng., v. 33, no. 5, pp. 146-149

OSTI ID:4311789

Lerch, R E; Cooley, C R; Atwood, J M

Acid digestion is a new process being developed to treat contaminated combustible waste materials. The process decomposes waste materials in hot (230 to 270 deg C) concentrated sulfuric acid in the presence of nitric acid oxidant. The waste materials are converted into noncombustible residues of considerably less volume. The process readily converts such waste materials as ion-exchange resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, wood, paper, rags, styrofoam, latex rubber, and neoprene rubber into a lowvolume noncombustible chemical residue. Average volume and weight reductions on mixed waste are about 60 and 6, respectively. Volume reduction achieved on eighteen specific materials is listed. Control of the process, residue characteristics, plutonium recovery, and safety are discussed. Scale-up studies, conceptual flowsheet development, and future studies are described. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA
• NSA Number: NSA-29-024096
• OSTI ID: 4311789
• Journal Information: Westinghouse Eng., v. 33, no. 5, pp. 146-149, Journal Name: Westinghouse Eng., v. 33, no. 5, pp. 146-149; ISSN WNHEA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING-- DIGESTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONTAMINATION REGULATIONS
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
N40430* --Chemistry--Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Radioactive Waste Treatment
N52200 --Nuclear Materials & Waste Management--Disposal & Storage
PLUTONIUM
RESIDUES
SAFETY
SOLID WASTES
SULFURIC ACID
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE STORAGE