Environmental assessment: waste-form selection for SRP high-level waste. [Borosilicate glass; crystalline ceramic]

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5295439

DOE has recently decided to construct and operate a Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) to immobilize the high-level radioactive waste generated and stored pending disposal in a federal geologic repository. In the immobilization process the high-activity fraction of the SRP high-level waste is mixed with glass frit to form the feed for the melter. The glass is cast from an electric-heated, ceramic-lined melter into canisters. Crystalline ceramic, the leading alternative to borosilicate glass, also appears to be an acceptable form for immobilizing the SRP high-level waste. Both are expected to meet regulations and repository acceptance criteria. The assessment also shows that the environmental effects of disposing of SRP high-level waste as a crystalline ceramic form would not differ significantly from the projected effects for disposal of the borosilicate glass form. A comprehensive evaluation program led to the recommendation of borosilicate glass as the preferred waste form. 10 figures, 19 tables. (DLC)

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs; Department of Energy, Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Operations Office
• OSTI ID: 5295439
• Report Number(s): DOE/EA-0179; ON: DE82019365
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CERAMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GLASS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SOLIDIFICATION
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES