In-situ thermoelectric stabilization of radioactive wastes
A new process for stabilizing buried radioactive wastes without exhumation is being developed by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL). The process, known as in situ vitrification, converts waste and contaminated soil to a durable glass and crystalline material by passing an electric current between electrodes placed in the ground. Joule heating created by the flowing current has generated temperatures over 1700/sup 0/C which cause the soil to melt and dissolve or encapsulate the wastes. Engineering-scale tests conducted in the laboratory have melted approximately 45 kgs (30 liters) of soil at a time by this technique. Encouraging results from these engineering-scale tests led to the design and construction of a pilot-scale field test unit which has solidified approximately 9000 kg of simulated contaminated soil per test. Test results and evaluations to date have been very promising. No detectable migration of hazardous species into uncontaminated soil has been found, and volatilization during melting has been very low. Leach studies have found the vitrified soil to be a highly durable waste form similar to pyrex glass. Electrical power costs to solidify a disposal site have been calculated at less than $70 per cubic meter ($2/ft/sup 3/) of waste. Future activities include both radioactive and nonradioactive pilot and large-scale tests.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5258078
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-9924; CONF-820303-36; ON: DE82013726; TRN: 82-012947
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste management conference, Tucson, AZ, USA, 8 Mar 1982; Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
In situ vitrification: application analysis for stabilization of transuranic waste
In-situ vitrification: pilot-scale development
Related Subjects
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
IN-SITU PROCESSING
VITRIFICATION
CONTAMINATION
COST
ELECTRODES
FIELD TESTS
JOULE HEATING
SOILS
SOLIDIFICATION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
ELECTRIC HEATING
HEATING
MANAGEMENT
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLASMA HEATING
PROCESSING
RESISTANCE HEATING
TESTING
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage