Dessicant materials screening for backfill in a salt repository
Maintaining an anhydrous environment around nuclear waste stored in a salt repository is a concern which can be alleviated by using a desiccant material for backfilling. Such a desiccant should desiccate a brine yet be non deliquescent, the hydrated product should have moderate thermal stability, and the desiccant should have a high capacity and be readily available. From a literature search MgO and CaO were identified for detailed study. These oxides, and an intimate mixture of the two obtained by calcining dolomite, were used in experiments to further determine their suitability. They proved to be excellent desiccants with a high water capacity. The hydrates of both have moderate thermal stability and a high water content. Both MgO and CaO react in an alkaline chloride brine forming oxychloride compounds with different waters of crystallization. Some of these compounds are the Sorel Cements. CaO hydrates to Ca(OH)/sub 2/ which carbonates with CO/sub 2/ in air to form CaCO/sub 3/ and release the hydrated water. Thus the intimate mixture of CaO and MgO from calcined dolomite may serve as a desiccant and remove CO/sub 2/ from the repository atmosphere.
- Research Organization:
- Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6444184
- Report Number(s):
- ONWI-214
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BACKFILLING
BRINES
CALCINATION
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESICCANTS
DOLOMITE
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRATES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MANAGEMENT
MINERALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
ROCKS
SALT DEPOSITS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER