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Detailed description of a long-term low-level waste degradation experiment

Book ·
OSTI ID:572214
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario (Canada). Chalk River Labs.
  2. CANDU Operations, Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)
This work gives a detailed description of the important aspects of a long-term Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) degradation experiment, performed at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL). This experiment utilized actual LLRW. The wastes consist of unconditioned compacted refuse (paper, mop heads, paper towels, used clothing, etc.), which represents the bulk of the waste volume intended for near-surface disposal at CRL. Waste material was collected and compacted to make a total of 11 bales for this experiment. Each bale was then placed and sealed in separate steel containers which were connected to sampling lines. After a dry monitoring period, water was added to promote leaching and decomposition of the wastes. The leachate sampled had a composition similar to landfill leachates. Some applications of this experiment, used to support the safety case of near-surface disposal, are briefly discussed in this paper, e.g., the production of colloidal material, the nature and role of dissolved organics of microbial origin, etc.
OSTI ID:
572214
Report Number(s):
CONF-961202--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English