Engineered sorbent barrier screening studies

Conference · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5351795

Freeman, H D; Buelt, J L

The objective of the Engineered Sorbent Barrier Program is to identify new and cost-effective technology for restricting the migration of radionuclides from low-level waste sites. The primary emphasis is to identify and evaluate sorbent materials as engineered barriers that will prevent radionuclide migration and yet allow moisture to pass. Screening studies have been completed to identify sorbent materials for cesium, cobalt, and strontium. The sorbent materials were selected based on criteria developed for this program and the empirical results of screening studies. The results of the study made it apparent that no single sorbent materials is effective for all radionuclides considered. Therefore, four composite sorbent barriers were identified for further evaluation in 0.6-m diameter columns. The large columns more accurately represent field conditions, generate permeability data, and enhance detectability of radionuclides in the leachate passing through the sorbent barriers. The four sorbent barriers include composites of activated charcoal, greensand, A-51 zeolite, and red pottery clay. Future studies will concentrate on completing the effectiveness evaluations with the large columns and identifying a more cost-effective sorbent material for strontium. 6 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5351795
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-13315; CONF-8509121-5; ON: DE85017914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CLAYS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELEMENTS
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUNCTIONS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MINERALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SCREENING
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ZEOLITES