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Polyethylene solidification of low-level wastes

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5847886· OSTI ID:5847886
;
This topical report describes the results of an investigation on the solidification of low-level radioactive waste in polyethylene. Waste streams selected for this study included those which result from advanced volume reduction technologies (dry evaporator concentrate salts and incinerator ash) and those which remain problematic for solidification using contemporary agents (ion exchange resins). Four types of commercially available low-density polyethylenes were employed which encompass a range of processing and property characteristics. Process development studies were conducted to ascertain optimal process control parameters for successful solidification. Maximum waste loadings were determined for each waste and polyethylene type. Property evaluation testing was performed on laboratory-scale specimens to assess the potential behavior of actual waste forms in a disposal environment. Waste form property tests included water immersion, deformation under compressive load, thermal cycling and radionuclide leaching. Recommended waste loadings of 70 wt % sodium sulfate, 50 wt % boric acid, 40 wt % incinerator ash, and 30 wt % ion exchange resins, which are based on process control and waste form performance considerations are reported. 37 refs., 33 figs., 22 tabs.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5847886
Report Number(s):
BNL-51867; ON: DE85012568
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ASHES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEFORMATION
DENSITY
DESIGN
DISSOLUTION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPANSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRUSION
FABRICATION
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEACHING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS WORKING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RESIDUES
RESINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDIFICATION
STRONTIUM 85
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THERMAL CYCLING
WASTE FORMS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES