Corrosion of radioactive waste tanks containing washed sludge and precipitates
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), Vol. 27:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON STEELS
PITTING CORROSION
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
TANKS
CORROSION
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION PROTECTION
HYDROXIDES
PASSIVATION
PRECIPITATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SLUDGES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WASHING
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CONTAINERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STEELS
STORAGE
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion