Vitrification of Ion-Exchange (IEX) resins: Advantages and technical challenges

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:518671

Jantzen, C M; Peeler, D K ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Savannah River Technology Center, Aiken, SC (United States)

Technologies are being developed by the US Department of Energy`s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the commercial sector to convert low-level radioactive ion exchange (IEX) resin wastes from the nuclear utilities to solid stabilized waste forms for permanent disposal. One of the alternative waste stabilization technologies is vitrification of the resin into glass via conventional Joule heated melting. Vitrification of wastes into glass is an attractive option because it atomistically bonds both hazardous and radioactive species in the glass structure, and volume reduces the waste by 70 - 80%. The large volume reductions allow for large associated savings in disposal and/or long term storage costs. This paper evaluates both the advantages of vitrification as a stabilization option for IEX resins and the associated technical challenges of thermally treating organic-based resins.

• OSTI ID: 518671
• Report Number(s): CONF-9604124--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VITRIFICATION