Conversion of radioactive wastes to stable form for disposal

Patent · Tue Jul 06 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6982843

MacMillan, N H; Roy, R; Shaffer, P T

Radioactive waste material, such as that resulting from radioactive weapons plant operation or from nuclear fuel reprocessing, in suitable form, such as containing oxide and/or oxyhydroxide and/or hydroxide particles, is held by a metal or metal ''alloy'' to an electrically conductive cathodic material upon which the metal or alloy is electrodeposited. In this way the species including strontium and/or cesium, which are biologically extremely hazardous, are incorporated into a metal matrix held to a base and may be disposed of, as by underground storage, in such form, which is considered to be more resistant to dissolution by ground water and to damage by mechanical stresses arising from tectonic activity than are glasses or ceramics incorporating radionuclides. For further improvements of the process radionuclide the immobilized waste is electrolytically or otherwise covered or coated with suitably corrosion resistant and mechanical damage resistant covering(s) or coating(s), by continuing electrodeposition of the metal, sometimes after addition of more material, which is a source of the metal, to a suitable electrolyte, or after replacement of the electrolyte.

• Assignee: Kennecott Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4338215
• Application Number: TRN: 82-026819
• OSTI ID: 6982843
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Sep 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-078119
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CESIUM 137
ELECTRODEPOSITION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
STRONTIUM 90
CATHODES
CHROMIUM
COBALT
COPPER
ELECTRODEPOSITED COATINGS
ELECTROLYSIS
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MATRICES
METALS
NICKEL
RADIOISOTOPES
TIN
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
ZINC
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COATINGS
DEPOSITION
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PROCESSING
STORAGE
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing