High organic containing tanks: Assessing the hazard potential

Conference · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6244303

Hill, R C.P.; Babad, H

Eight Hanford Site tanks contain organic chemicals at concentrations believed to be greater than 10 mole percent sodium acetate equivalent mixed with the oxidizing salts sodium nitrate/sodium nitrite. Also, three of the hydrogen and ferrocyanide tanks appear on the organic tank list. Concentrations of organics that may be present in some tanks could cause an exothermic reaction given a sufficient driving force, such as high temperatures. However, the difference between ignition temperatures and actual tank temperatures measured is so large that the probability of such a reaction is considered very low. The consequences of the postulated reaction are about the same as the scenarios for an explosion in a burping'' hydrogen tank. Although work on this issue is just beginning, consideration of hazards associated with heating nitrate-nitrite mixtures containing organic materials is an integral part of both the hydrogen and ferrocyanide tank efforts. High concentrations of organic compounds have been inferred (from tank transfer, flow sheet records, and limited analytical data) in eight single-shell tanks. Many organic chemicals, if present in concentrations above 10 dry weight percent (sodium acetate equivalent), have the potential to react with nitrate-nitrites constituents at temperatures above 200{degree}C (392{degree}F) in an exothermic manner. The concentrations of organic materials in the listed single-shell tanks, and their chemical identity, is not accurately known at present. A tank sampling program has been planned to provide more information on the contents of these tanks and to serve as a basis for laboratory testing and safety evaluations. 2 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-87RL10930
• OSTI ID: 6244303
• Report Number(s): WHC-SA-1218; CONF-910981--31; ON: DE92002050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMPLEXES
CONTAINERS
FERROCYANIDES
HANFORD RESERVATION
IRON COMPLEXES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SAFETY
STORAGE FACILITIES
TANKS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS