Electrochemical processing of alkaline nitrate and nitrite wastes

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5176628

Hobbs, D T; Ebra, M A

Processing of high-level waste at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) will produce, as a by-product, a low-level, alkaline salt solution containing approximately 17% sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. This solution will be incorporated into a cement formulation, saltstone, and placed in an engineered landfill. Electrochemical methods have been investigated to decrease the nitrate and nitrite in this solution in order to lower the leaching of nitrate and nitrite from saltstone and to reduce the volume of saltstone. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the technical feasibility of electrolytically reducing the nitrate and nitrite in a synthetic salt solution similar in composition to that expected to be produced at SRP. Greater than 99% of the sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite can be reduced, producing ammonia, nitrogen, oxygen, and sodium hydroxide. In addition, significant reductions in the volume of saltstone may be realized if the sodium hydroxide produced by electrolysis can be recycled.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5176628
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-86-10; CONF-861146-5; ON: DE86015681
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BY-PRODUCTS
ELECTROLYSIS
LIQUID WASTES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITRATES
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SALTS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM NITRATES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES