Electrochemical probing of high-level radioactive waste tanks containing washed sludge and precipitates

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6982145

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

At the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Plant, corrosion of carbon steel storage tanks containing alkaline, high-level radioactive waste is controlled by specification of limits on waste composition and temperature. Processes for the preparation of waste for final disposal will result in waste with low corrosion inhibitor concentrations and, in some cases, high aromatic organic concentrations, neither of which are characteristic of previous operations. 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 have been conducted to assess the validity of laboratory tests. Probes included pH, Eh (potential relative to a standard hydrogen electrode), tank potential, and alloy coupons. In situ results are compared to those of the laboratory tests, with particular regard given to simulated solution composition.

• OSTI ID: 6982145
• Report Number(s): CONF-870314-
• 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
ADDITIVES
ALLOYS
CARBON STEELS
CATHODIC PROTECTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION PROTECTION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PASSIVATION
PITTING CORROSION
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SLUDGES
STEELS
STORAGE
TANKS
TESTING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES