Grouting of uranium mill tailings piles

Conference · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6521028

Boegly, Jr, W J; Tamura, T; Williams, J D

A program of remedial action was initiated for a number of inactive uranium mill tailings piles. These piles result from mining and processing of uranium ores to meet the nation's defense and nuclear power needs and represent a potential hazard to health and the environment. Possible remedial actions include the application of covers to reduce radon emissions and airborne transport of the tailings, liners to prevent groundwater contamination by leachates from the piles, physical or chemical stabilization of the tailings, or moving the piles to remote locations. Conventional installation of liners would require excavation of the piles to emplace the liner; however, utilization of grouting techniques, such as those used in civil engineering to stabilize soils, might be a potential method of producing a liner without excavation. Laboratory studies on groutability of uranium mill tailings were conducted using samples from three abandoned piles and employing a number of particulate and chemical grouts. These studies indicate that it is possible to alter the permeability of the tailings from ambient values of 10/sup -3/ cm/s to values approaching 10/sup -7/ cm/s using silicate grouts and to 10/sup -8/ cm/s using acrylamide and acrylate grouts. An evaluation of grouting techniques, equipment required, and costs associated with grouting were also conducted and are presented. 10 references, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6521028
• Report Number(s): CONF-8406205-1; ON: DE85001278
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
GROUTING
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
MILL TAILINGS
PERMEABILITY
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOLID WASTES
STABILIZATION
TAILINGS
WASTES