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Title: Microbial effects on radioactive wastes at SLB sites

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to determine the significance of microbial degradation of organic wastes on radionuclide migration on shallow land burial for humid and arid sites, establish which mechanisms predominate and ascertain the conditions under which these mechanisms operate. Factors contolling gaseous eminations from low-level radioactive waste disposal sites are assessed. Importance of gaseous fluxes of methane, carbon dioxide and possibly hydrogen from the site stems from the inclusion of tritium and/or /sup 14/C into the elemental composition of these compounds. In that the primary source of these gases is the biodegradation of organic components of the waste materials, primary emphasis of the study involved on examination of the biochemical pathways producing methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and the environmental parameters controlling the activity of the microbial community involved. Although the methane and carbon dioxide production rate indicates the degradation rate of the organic substances in the waste, it does not predict the methane evolution rate from the trench site. Methane fluxes from the soil surface are equivalent to the net synthesis minus the quantity oxidized by the microbial community as the gas passes through the soil profile. Gas studies were performed at three commercial low-level radioactive wastemore » disposal sites (West Valley, New York; Beatty, Nevada; Maxey Flats, Kentucky) during the period 1976 to 1978. The results of these studies are presented. 3 tables.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6748821
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 6748821; Legacy ID: DE83000834
Report Number(s):
BNL-31888; CONF-820854-20
ON: DE83000834
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: 4. annual DOE LLWMP participant's information meeting, Denver, CO, USA, 31 Aug 1982
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS; GROUND RELEASE; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; BIODEGRADATION; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; TRITIUM COMPOUNDS; ANAEROBIC DIGESTION; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; CARBON DIOXIDE; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HYDROGEN; METHANE; MICROORGANISMS; SAMPLING; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; ALKANES; BIOCONVERSION; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DATA; DECOMPOSITION; DIGESTION; ELEMENTS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; HYDROCARBONS; INFORMATION; LABELLED COMPOUNDS; MANAGEMENT; MASS TRANSFER; MATERIALS; NONMETALS; NUMERICAL DATA; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PROCESSING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE PROCESSING; WASTES 053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects; 052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage; 510301 -- Environment, Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Colombo, P. Microbial effects on radioactive wastes at SLB sites. United States: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.2172/6748821.
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Colombo, P. Microbial effects on radioactive wastes at SLB sites. United States. doi:10.2172/6748821.
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Colombo, P. Fri . "Microbial effects on radioactive wastes at SLB sites". United States. doi:10.2172/6748821. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6748821.
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@article{osti_6748821,
title = {Microbial effects on radioactive wastes at SLB sites},
author = {Colombo, P.},
abstractNote = {The objectives of this study are to determine the significance of microbial degradation of organic wastes on radionuclide migration on shallow land burial for humid and arid sites, establish which mechanisms predominate and ascertain the conditions under which these mechanisms operate. Factors contolling gaseous eminations from low-level radioactive waste disposal sites are assessed. Importance of gaseous fluxes of methane, carbon dioxide and possibly hydrogen from the site stems from the inclusion of tritium and/or /sup 14/C into the elemental composition of these compounds. In that the primary source of these gases is the biodegradation of organic components of the waste materials, primary emphasis of the study involved on examination of the biochemical pathways producing methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and the environmental parameters controlling the activity of the microbial community involved. Although the methane and carbon dioxide production rate indicates the degradation rate of the organic substances in the waste, it does not predict the methane evolution rate from the trench site. Methane fluxes from the soil surface are equivalent to the net synthesis minus the quantity oxidized by the microbial community as the gas passes through the soil profile. Gas studies were performed at three commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal sites (West Valley, New York; Beatty, Nevada; Maxey Flats, Kentucky) during the period 1976 to 1978. The results of these studies are presented. 3 tables.},
doi = {10.2172/6748821},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/6748821
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  • ;
    A significant fraction of DOE and commercially generated low-level radioactive waste consists of organic materials. These materials are subject to degradation by microorganisms present in the shallow land burial environment and may contribute to enhanced migration of radionuclides through the formation of gases, mobile complexes and bioaccumulation. This scanning study will determine the effects of microbial degradation at present disposal sites and their impact on shallow land burial performance criteria, trench construction and segregation of organic wastes. The main objective of this program is to determine the significant effects of microbial activities on shallow land burial (SLB). The program ismore » in support of DOE/LLW Management program alpha milestones B, C, and D.« less

  • ;
    The Low-Level Waste Management Program has published nine annual State-by-State Assessment Reports since 1979. These reports provide both national and state-specific disposal data on low-level radioactive wastes. Data in this report are divided into generator categories, waste classes, volumes, and activities. Included in this report are tables showing a distribution of wastes by state for 1987 and a comparison of waste volumes by state for 1983 through 1987; also included is a list of all commercial nuclear power reactors in the US as of December 31, 1987. 8 refs.

  • ; ; ; ...
    As the costs associated with treatment of mixed wastes by conventional methods increase, new technologies will be investigated as alternatives. This study examines the potential of using a selected mixed population of microorganisms to treat hazardous chemical compounds in liquid low level radioactive wastes from biomedical research procedures. Microorganisms were isolated from various waste samples and enriched against compounds known to occur in the wastes. Individual isolates were tested for their ability to degrade methanol, ethanol, phenol, toluene, phthalates, acetonitrile, chloroform, and trichloroacetic acid. Following these tests, the organisms were combined in a media with a mixture of the differentmore » compounds. Three compounds: methanol, acetonitrile, and pseudocumene, were combined at 500 microliter/liter each. Degradation of each compound was shown to occur (75% or greater) under batch conditions with the mixed population. Actual wastes were tested by adding an aliquot to the media, determining the biomass increase, and monitoring the disappearance of the compounds. The compounds in actual waste were degraded, but at different rates than the batch cultures that did not have waste added. The potential of using bioprocessing methods for treating mixed wastes from biomedical research is discussed.« less

  • ; ;
    Factors controlling gaseous emanations from low level radioactive waste disposal sites are assessed. Importance of gaseous fluxes of methane, carbon dioxide, and possible hydrogen from the site, stems from the inclusion of tritium and/or carbon-14 into the elemental composition of these compounds. In that the primary source of these gases is the biodegradation of organic components of the waste material, primary emphasis of the study involved an examination of the biochemical pathways producing methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, and the environmental parameters controlling the activity of the microbial community involved. Initial examination of the data indicates that the ecosystem ismore » anaerobic. As the result of the complexity of the pathway leading to methane production, factors such as substrate availability, which limit the initial reaction in the sequence, greatly affect the overall rate of methane evolution. Biochemical transformations of methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide as they pass through the soil profile above the trench are discussed. Results of gas studies performed at three commercial low level radioactive waste disposal sites are reviewed. Methods used to obtain trench and soil gas samples are discussed. Estimates of rates of gas production and amounts released into the atmosphere (by the GASFLOW model) are evaluated. Tritium and carbon-14 gaseous compounds have been measured in these studies; tritiated methane is the major radionuclide species in all disposal trenches studied. The concentration of methane in a typical trench increases with the age of the trench, whereas the concentration of carbon dioxide is similar in all trenches.« less

  • Contents: introduction; safety concerns when investigating and treating explosives waste; field screening methods for munitions residues in soil; characterization of radioactive contaminants for removal assessments; overview of approaches to detection and retrieval operations; detection, retrieval, and disposal of unexploded ordnance (uxo) at US military sites; detection and sampling of white phosphorus in sediment; biological treatment technologies, wet air oxidation, low temperature thermal desorption, solvent extraction, and volume reduction; incineration of soils and sludges; open burn/open detonation; ultraviolet oxidation and granular activated carbon; compressed gas cylinder handling and reactive chemical handling; reuse/recycle options for propellants and explosives; wet-based volume reduction formore » radioactive soils; dry-based volume reduction for radioactive soils; treatment of radioactive compounds in water; incineration of radioactive and mixed waste; in situ vitrification; polymer solidification; in situ grout injection; electrokinetic soil processing; Appendix A: search for a white phosphorus munitions disposal site in Chesapeake Bay; and Appendix B: case study: remedial action implementation, Elizabeth, New Jersey.« less