Comparison of modified sulfur cement and hydraulic cement for encapsulation of radioactive and mixed wastes

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6826186

Kalb, P D; Heiser, III, J H; Colombo, P

The majority of solidification/stabilization systems for low-level radioactive waste (LLW) and mixed waste, both in the commercial sector and at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, utilize hydraulic cement (such as portland cement) to encapsulate waste materials and yield a monolithic solid waste form for disposal. A new and innovative process utilizing modified sulfur cement developed by the US Bureau of Mines has been applied at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) for the encapsulation of many of these problem'' wastes. Modified sulfur cement is a thermoplastic material, and as such, it can be heated above it's melting point (120{degree}C), combined with dry waste products to form a homogeneous mixture, and cooled to form a monolithic solid product. Under sponsorship of the DOE, research and development efforts at BNL have successfully applied the modified sulfur cement process for treatment of a range of LLWs including sodium sulfate salts, boric acid salts, and incinerator bottom ash and for mixed waste contaminated incinerator fly ash. Process development studies were conducted to determine optimal waste loadings for each waste type. Property evaluation studies were conducted to test waste form behavior under disposal conditions by applying relevant performance testing criteria established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (for LLW) and the Environmental Protection Agency (for hazardous wastes). Based on both processing and performance considerations, significantly greater waste loadings were achieved using modified sulfur cement when compared with hydraulic cement. Technology demonstration of the modified sulfur cement encapsulation system using production-scale equipment is scheduled for FY 1991. 12 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6826186
• Report Number(s): BNL-45163; CONF-9008119--2; ON: DE91001130
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
AEROSOL WASTES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ASHES
BORIC ACID
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
DISSOLUTION
ENCAPSULATION
FLY ASH
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEACHING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PORTLAND CEMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESIDUES
SALTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM SULFATES
SOLIDIFICATION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TESTING
WASTE FORMS
WASTES