Grout performance in support of in situ stabilization/solidification of the GAAT tank sludges

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/661325· OSTI ID:661325

Spence, R. D. ^[1]; Kauschinger, J. L. ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. Ground Environmental Services, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (United States)

The Gunite{trademark} and associated tanks (GAATs) were constructed at ORNL between 1943 and 1951 and were used for many years to collect radioactive and chemical wastes. These tanks are currently inactive. Varying amounts of the sludge were removed and disposed of through the Hydrofracture Program. Thus, some tanks are virtually empty, while others still contain significant amounts of sludge and supernatant. In situ grouting of the sludges in the tanks using multi-point injection (MPI{trademark}), a patented, proprietary technique, is being investigated as a low-cost alternative to (1) moving the sludges to the Melton Valley Storage Tanks (MVSTs) for later solidification and disposal, (2) ex situ grouting of the sludges followed by either disposal back in the tanks or containerizing and disposal elsewhere, and (3) vitrification of the sludges. The paper discusses the chemical characteristics of the GAATs and the type of chemical surrogate that was used during the leachability tests. T his is followed by the experimental work, which, consisted of scope testing and sensitivity testing. The scope testing explored the rheology of the proposed jetting slurries and the settling properties of the proposed grouts using sand-water mixes for the wet sludge. After establishing a jetting slurry and grout with an acceptable rheology and settling properties, the proposed in situ grout formulation was subjected to sensitivity testing for variations in the formulation.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• OSTI ID: 661325
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM--13389; ON: DE98007051
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CHEMICAL WASTES
GROUTING
ORNL
PERFORMANCE
RHEOLOGY
SENSITIVITY
SLUDGES
SLURRIES
SOLIDIFICATION
STORAGE
TANKS
TESTING
VALLEYS
VITRIFICATION