Decontaminating lead bricks and shielding
Lead used for shielding is often surface contaminated with radioisotopes and is therefore a RCRA D008 mixed waste. The technology-based standard for treatment is macroencapsulation. However, decontaminating and recycling the clean lead is a more attractive solution. Los Alamos National Laboratory decontaminates material and equipment contaminated with radioisotopes. Decontaminating lead poses special problems because of the RCRA hazard classification and the size of the inventory, now about 50 tons and likely to grow substantially because of planned decommissioning operations. This lead, in the form of bricks and other shield shapes, is surface contaminated with fission products. One of the best methods for decontaminating lead is removing the thin superficial layer of contamination with an abrasive medium trader pressure. For lead, a mixture of alumina with water and air at about 40 psig rapidly and effectively decontaminates the lead. The abrasive medium is sprayed onto the lead in a sealed-off area. The slurry of abrasive and particles of lead falls through a floor grating and is collected in a sump. A pump sends the slurry mixture back to the spray gun, creating a continuous process. The process generates small volumes of contaminated lead slurry that can be solidified and, because it passes the TCLP, is not a mixed waste. The decontaminated lead can be released for recycling.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6428652
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-93-1203; CONF-930873--4; ON: DE93012662
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
ABRASIVES
AIR
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BRICKS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEANING
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RECYCLING
SHIELDING MATERIALS
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER