Radiogenic gas accumulation in TRU waste storage drums

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5363837· OSTI ID:5363837

Ryan, J P

A field experiment was conducted over a four-year time span to determine the effect of high-activity transuranic (TRU) waste on the atmosphere within TRU waste storage drums typical of those generated in Savannah River Plant operation. Routine gas composition analyses showed that a significant amount of hydrogen can accumulate in drums that contain high alpha activity, and that flammable gas mixtures could form in such drums in spite of the radiolytic consumption of oxygen. According to this study, gas pressure accumulation does not pose a threat to the integrity of the TRU waste containers that are now being stored at the Savannah River Plant. Therefore, the 20-year storage criterion is still viable. However, the continued avoidance of a perfectly gas-tight drum seal (e.g., epoxy, metal welding) is recommended. The test drums will continue to be monitored.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5363837
• Report Number(s): DP-1604; ON: DE82009267
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ALKANES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
AUTOLYSIS
AUTORADIOLYSIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CELLULOSE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTAINERS
CONTAINMENT
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
G VALUE
GASEOUS WASTES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
INFORMATION
LUBRICANTS
LUBRICATING OILS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OCTANE
OILS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSACCHARIDES
POLYVINYLS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
PVC
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOLYSIS
SACCHARIDES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
STORAGE
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
YIELDS