Electrochemical processing of alkaline nitrate and nitrite solutions

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6435248

Hobbs, D T; Ebra, M A

Processing of high-level waste at the Savannah River Plant (SRP) will produce, as a by product, a low- level, alkaline salt solution containing approximately 17% sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. This solution will be incorporated into a cement formulation, saltstone, and placed in an engineered landfill. Electrochemical methods have been investigated to decrease the nitrate and nitrite in this solution in order to lower the leaching of nitrate and nitrite from saltstone and to reduce the volume of saltstone. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the technical feasibility of electrolytically reducing the nitrate and nitrite in a synthetic salt solution similar in composition to that expected to be produced at SRP. Greater than 99% of the sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite can be reduced, producing ammonia, nitrogen, oxygen, and sodium hydroxide. In addition, significant reductions in the volume of saltstone may be realized if the sodium hydroxide produced by electrolysis can be recycled.

• Research Organization: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC 29808
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 6435248
• Report Number(s): CONF-861146-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COMPACTING
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
LAND POLLUTION ABATEMENT
LEACHING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITRATES
NITRITES
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RECYCLING
REDUCTION
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SODIUM NITRATES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES