Low-level radioactive Hanford wastes immobilized by cement-based grouts

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Nuclear Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6904660

Huang, F H; Mitchell, D E; Conner, J M ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)

More than 5,300,000 liters (1,400,000 gal) of phosphate/sulfate waste (PSW) grout were produced and placed in vault 101 at the Hanford Site. This waste was generated during decontamination operations and maintenance of the fuel storage basin at the N Reactor. The low-level radioactive liquid wastes were mixed with a blend of portland cement, fly ash, and clays. Through cementing and pozzolanic reactions with water, the grout was solidified to immobilize contaminants and retain low permeability to groundwater. Testing conducted before the campaign is described. The usefulness of each quality verification technique is discussed, focusing mainly on data from the core samples. These data provide the best information on PSW grout since core samples from all regions and depths in the vault were tested. The nondestructive testing data are also useful as they provide property data from broad regions of the vault. The mean compressive strength of the PSW grout cores is 4.17 MPa, much higher than the criterion value of 0.35 MPa. Results also show that the leachability indices for [sup 137]Cs, [sup 60]Co, sodium, and SO[sub 4] for PSW grout cores exceed the leachability criterion by at least one index point. This means that the ability of the grout to resist leaching of waste species is at least ten times greater than the limiting criterion.

• OSTI ID: 6904660
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (United States) Vol. 107:3; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
053002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects-- Radioactive Effluents-- (1992-)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
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RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STORAGE
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TESTING
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
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WASTE FORMS
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WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
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