Corrosion of radioactive waste tanks containing washed sludge and precipitates

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Mater. Performance; (United States)

OSTI ID:6833947

Bickford, D F; Congdon, J W; Oblath, S B

At the US Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Plant, the corrosion of carbon steel storage tanks containing alkaline, high-level radioactive waste is controlled by specification of limits on waste composition and temperature. Laboratory tests, conducted to determine minimum corrosion inhibitor levels, indicated pitting of carbon steel near the waterline for proposed storage conditions. In situ electrochemical measurements of full-scale radioactive process demonstrations were conducted to assess the validity of laboratory tests. The in situ results are compared to those of laboratory tests, with particular regard given to simulated solution composition. Transition metal hydroxide sludge contains strong passivating species for carbon steel. Washed precipitate contains organic species that lower solution pH and tend to reduce passivating films, requiring higher inhibitor concentrations than the 0.01 M nitrite required for reactor fuel reprocessing wastes.

• Research Organization: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Savanna River Lab., Aiken, SC (US)
• OSTI ID: 6833947
• Journal Information: Mater. Performance; (United States), Journal Name: Mater. Performance; (United States) Vol. 27:5; ISSN MTPFB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALLOYS
CARBON STEELS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION PROTECTION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PASSIVATION
PITTING CORROSION
PRECIPITATION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLUDGES
STEELS
STORAGE
TANKS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASHING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES