Preliminary evaluation of alternative forms for immobilization of Hanford high-level defense wastes
A preliminary evaluation of solid waste forms for immobilization of Hanford high-level radioactive defense wastes is presented. Nineteen different waste forms were evaluated and compared to determine their applicability and suitability for immobilization of Hanford salt cake, sludge, and residual liquid. This assessment was structured to address waste forms/processes for several different leave-retrieve long-term Hanford waste management alternatives which give rise to four different generic fractions: (1) sludge plus long-lived radionuclide concentrate from salt cake and residual liquid; (2) blended wastes (salt cake plus sludge plus residual liquid); (3) residual liquid; and (4) radionuclide concentrate from residual liquid. Waste forms were evaluated and ranked on the basis of weighted ratings of seven waste form and seven process characteristics. Borosilicate Glass waste forms, as marbles or monoliths, rank among the first three choices for fixation of all Hanford high-level wastes (HLW). Supergrout Concrete (akin to Oak Ridge National Laboratory Hydrofracture Process concrete) and Bitumen, low-temperature waste forms, rate high for bulk disposal immobilization of high-sodium blended wastes and residual liquid. Certain multi-barrier (e.g., Coated Ceramic) and ceramic (SYNROC Ceramic, Tailored Ceramics, and Supercalcine Ceramic) waste forms, along with Borosilicate Glass, are rated as the most satisfactory forms in which to incorporate sludges and associated radionuclide concentrates. The Sol-Gel process appears superior to other processes for manufacture of a generic ceramic waste form for fixation of Hanford sludge. Appropriate recommendations for further research and development work on top ranking waste forms are made.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA). Energy Systems Group
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-77RL01030
- OSTI ID:
- 6776148
- Report Number(s):
- RHO-ST-32; TRN: 81-000798
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BITUMENS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CERAMICS
CONCRETES
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
SLUDGES
SOLIDIFICATION
CALCINED WASTES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM CHLORIDES
DATA ANALYSIS
HAPO
LEACHING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SOLID WASTES
STABILITY
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM FLUORIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BUILDING MATERIALS
CESIUM COMPOUNDS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISSOLUTION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GLASS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TAR
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing
360603 - Materials- Properties
360203 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Mechanical Properties