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Title: Summary of recent developments in the Sludge Irradiation Program at Sandia Laboratories

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6036310

Sandia Laboratories has shifted the emphasis of its Sewage Sludge Irradiation Program toward treating dried sewage sludges rather than liquid sludges for the following reasons: (1) cities' interests in composting sewage sludge before final disposal, (2) disinfection may be required for increased public use of composted or dried sludge, and (3) disinfection of dried sludge costs less than disinfection of liquid sludge. As a result of this shift, the Sandia Irradiator for Dried Sewage Solids (SIDSS) was designed and is near completion. The irradiator will treat up to 8 tons/day of solids with a 1 megarad absorbed dose. A bucket conveyor will transport the sewage sludge past a 1 megacurie cesium-137 ..gamma..-ray source. If a lower dose than 1 megarad is acceptable for disinfection, the daily throughput of the irradiator will be correspondingly increased. The irradiator is designed so that the cesium-137 ..gamma..-ray sources used to charge the facility can be manipulated underwater. After source unloading is complete, the water will be drained and the irradiator will be operated dry. Either bagged or bulk solids can be irradiated with the system. In April 1979, the facility will be charged with cesium-137.

Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
6036310
Report Number(s):
SAND-79-0629
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English