Exothermic potential of sodium nitrate salt cake

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5170751· OSTI ID:5170751

Beitel, G. A.

High-Level radioactive liquid waste is being reduced to a liquid slurry by an evaporation and crystallization process and stored in the existing single-shell tanks. Continuous pumping of the waste storage tank will reduce the present 30 to 50% moisture to the minimum possible. The reduced waste is a relatively immobile salt cake consisting predominantly of sodium nitrate (NaNO/sub 3/) with lesser amounts of sodium nitrite (NaNO/sub 2/), sodium metaaluminate (NaAlO/sub 2/), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Trace amounts of fission products, transuranics, and a broad spectrum of organic materials in small but unknown amounts are also present. A program was initiated in 1973 to determine whether or not conditions exist which could lead to an exothermic reaction in the salt cake. Results of the latest series of tests conducted to determine the effects of mass and pressure are summarized. Hanford salt cake, as stored, cannot support combustion, and does not ignite when covered with a burning volatile hydrocarbon.

• Research Organization: Atlantic Richfield Hanford Co., Richland, Wash. (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• OSTI ID: 5170751
• Report Number(s): ARH-LD--163
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONTAINERS
DISPERSIONS
MANAGEMENT
MIXTURES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SLURRIES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM NITRATES
STORAGE
SUSPENSIONS
TANKS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES