Durability of incinerator ash waste encapsulated in modified sulfur cement

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6019983

Kalb, P D; Heiser, III, J H; Pietrzak, R; Colombo, P

Waste form stability under anticipated disposal conditions is an important consideration for ensuring continued isolation of contaminants from the accessible environment. Modified sulfur cement is a relatively new material and has only recently been applied as a binder for encapsulation of mixed wastes. Little data are available concerning its long-term durability. Therefore, a series of property evaluation tests for both binder and waste-binder combinations have been conducted to examine potential waste form performance under storage and disposal conditions. These tests include compressive strength, biodegradation, radiation stability, water immersion, thermal cycling, and leaching. Waste form compressive strength increased with ash waste loadings to 30.5 MPa at a maximum incinerator ash loading of 43 wt %. Biodegradation testing resulted in no visible microbial growth of either bacteria or fungi. Initial radiation stability testing did not reveal statistically significant deterioration in structural integrity. Results of 90 day water immersion tests were dependent on the type of ash tested. There were no statistically significant changes in compressive strength detected after completion of thermal cycle testing. Radionuclides from ash waste encapsulated in modified sulfur cement leached between 5 and 8 orders of magnitude slower than the leach index criterion established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for low-level radioactive waste. Modified sulfur cement waste forms containing up to 43 wt % incinerator fly ash passed EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) criteria for lead and cadmium leachability. 11 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6019983
• Report Number(s): BNL-45292; CONF-910559--2; ON: DE91011730
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Cermets
& Refractories-- Mechanical Properties
360205 -- Ceramics
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360206 -- Ceramics
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42 ENGINEERING
420500 -- Engineering-- Materials Testing
ASHES
BIODEGRADATION
BUILDING MATERIALS
CADMIUM
CEMENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENCAPSULATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INCINERATORS
LEACHING
LEAD
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESIDUES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STRESS ANALYSIS
STRESSES
SULFUR
TESTING
THERMAL STRESSES
TOXIC MATERIALS
WASTE FORMS
WASTES
WATER