Characterization of cement and bitumen waste forms containing simulated low-level waste incinerator ash

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6566642

Westsik, Jr, J H ^[1]

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Incinerator ash from the combustion of general trash and ion exchange resins was immobilized in cement and bitumen. Tests were conducted on the resulting waste forms to provide a data base for the acceptability of actual low-level waste forms. The testing was done in accordance with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Technical Position on Waste Form. Bitumen had a measured compressive strength of 130 psi and a leachability index of 13 as measured with the ANS 16.1 leach test procedure. Cement demonstrated a compressive strength of 1400 psi and a leachability index of 7. Both waste forms easily exceed the minimum compressive strength of 50 psi and leachability index of 6 specified in the Technical Position. Irradiation to 10/sup 8/ Rad and exposure to 31 thermal cycles ranging from +60/sup 0/) to -30/sup 0/C did not significantly impact these properties. Neither waste form supported bacterial or fungal growth as measured with ASTM G21 and G22 procedures. However, there is some indication of biodegradation due to co-metabolic processes. Concentration of organic complexants in leachates of the ash, cement and bitumen were too low to significantly affect the release of radionuclides from the waste forms. Neither bitumen nor cement containing incinerator ash caused any corrosion or degradation of potential container materials including steel, polyethylene and fiberglass. However, moist ash did cause corrosion of the steel.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6566642
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3798; PNL-5153; ON: TI84016960
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ASHES
BIODEGRADATION
BITUMENS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
CESIUM
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COMPRESSIBILITY
CORROSION
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
LEACHING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PORTLAND CEMENT
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESIDUES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STRONTIUM
TAR
WASTE FORMS
WASTES