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Title: Potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks

Abstract

The potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks at Hanford is discussed. Organic chemicals have been added to Hanford waste tanks, particularly as ferrocyanides and when processing sludges at B Plant. Recent planned or ongoing activities involving stored wastes have possibly increased the potential for reaction of these wastes with nitrate salts in the waste tanks. Risk evaluations appear to be deficient in assessing the consequences of a deflagration, and in determining the probability of either a deflagration or detonation. The present question is whether current plans and recent safety-related documentation have given proper consideration to the available information about organic compounds in waste tanks. The principal organic additions to Hanford waste tanks are 1200 tonnes of organic carbon'' and 500 tonnes of Ni{sub 2}Fe(CN){sub 6}. 13 refs.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE/DP
OSTI Identifier:
6535952
Report Number(s):
PNL-7526
ON: DE91001296
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; AMMONIUM NITRATES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CYANIDES; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; COMBUSTION; DETONATIONS; EXPLOSIONS; HANFORD RESERVATION; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE; STORAGE FACILITIES; TANKS; AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS; CONTAINERS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NITRATES; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; OXIDATION; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; STORAGE; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; US DOE; US ERDA; US ORGANIZATIONS; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE STORAGE; WASTES; 052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage

Citation Formats

Van Tuyl, H H. Potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks. United States: N. p., 1983. Web. doi:10.2172/6535952.
Van Tuyl, H H. Potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6535952
Van Tuyl, H H. 1983. "Potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6535952. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6535952.
@article{osti_6535952,
title = {Potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks},
author = {Van Tuyl, H H},
abstractNote = {The potential for exothermic chemical reactions in waste tanks at Hanford is discussed. Organic chemicals have been added to Hanford waste tanks, particularly as ferrocyanides and when processing sludges at B Plant. Recent planned or ongoing activities involving stored wastes have possibly increased the potential for reaction of these wastes with nitrate salts in the waste tanks. Risk evaluations appear to be deficient in assessing the consequences of a deflagration, and in determining the probability of either a deflagration or detonation. The present question is whether current plans and recent safety-related documentation have given proper consideration to the available information about organic compounds in waste tanks. The principal organic additions to Hanford waste tanks are 1200 tonnes of organic carbon'' and 500 tonnes of Ni{sub 2}Fe(CN){sub 6}. 13 refs.},
doi = {10.2172/6535952},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6535952}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Thu Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}