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Title: Tritium effluent control project progress report, July--September 1975. [Tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation, electrolysis of high-level tritiated water, and catalytic exchange detritiation studies]

Abstract

In the Tritiated Liquid Waste Decontamination (Molecular Excitation) program, it was found that a 1/4'' Nd:YAG amplifier and a Faraday rotator isolator must be added to the oscillator to obtain the required power for the laser excitation experiments. The isotopic selectivity of the two-photon dissociation process was examined in more detail. The selectivity or ratio of HTO to H/sub 2/O molecules that are photodissociated was found to be on the order of 25, which is inadequate for application to large-scale detritiation projects, e.g., nuclear fuel reprocessing plant waste. The selectivity is such that most of the laser energy is wasted in photodissociation of H/sub 2/O. This obstacle may be overcome by pumping more vibrational energy into the HTO molecules. Various schemes towards this end are being considered. Extensive ab initio calculations on the potential surface for the hydrogen atom-water exchange reaction have been carried out. The energy barrier is calculated to be 38 1/2 kcal/mole, which implies that the exchange reaction T + H/sub 2/O ..-->.. HTO + H is at least 10/sup 9/ times slower than the exchange reaction T + H/sub 2/ ..-->.. HT + H. Calculations were also performed on the analogous hydrogen atom-hydrogen fluoride exchange reaction.more » In lieu of other disposal methods a system using a General Electric UCT-1 regenerative cell has been assembled and tested. This system should be capable of decomposing pure water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The tritium from this process can be purified and reused instead of buried. A preliminary economic evaluation was made of the HT/H/sub 2/O catalytic exchange detritiation stripping process as it might apply to a 5 metric ton/day nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. A tritiated water shipping container has been designed and developed for use with the ERDA--DOT approved AL--MI secondary container.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Mound Lab., Miamisburg, Ohio (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
7196258
Report Number(s):
MLM-2288
TRN: 76-013002
DOE Contract Number:
E-33-1-GEN-53
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; LIQUID WASTES; TRITIUM; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; DECONTAMINATION; ELECTROLYSIS; HEAVY WATER; ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; TRITIUM COMPOUNDS; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CLEANING; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; HYDROGEN ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LABELLED COMPOUNDS; LIGHT NUCLEI; LYSIS; MANAGEMENT; NUCLEI; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PROCESSING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOISOTOPES; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE PROCESSING; WASTES; WATER; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing; 052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage

Citation Formats

Kershner, C.J., and Bixel, J.C. Tritium effluent control project progress report, July--September 1975. [Tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation, electrolysis of high-level tritiated water, and catalytic exchange detritiation studies]. United States: N. p., 1976. Web. doi:10.2172/7196258.
Kershner, C.J., & Bixel, J.C. Tritium effluent control project progress report, July--September 1975. [Tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation, electrolysis of high-level tritiated water, and catalytic exchange detritiation studies]. United States. doi:10.2172/7196258.
Kershner, C.J., and Bixel, J.C. Fri . "Tritium effluent control project progress report, July--September 1975. [Tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation, electrolysis of high-level tritiated water, and catalytic exchange detritiation studies]". United States. doi:10.2172/7196258. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7196258.
@article{osti_7196258,
title = {Tritium effluent control project progress report, July--September 1975. [Tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation, electrolysis of high-level tritiated water, and catalytic exchange detritiation studies]},
author = {Kershner, C.J. and Bixel, J.C.},
abstractNote = {In the Tritiated Liquid Waste Decontamination (Molecular Excitation) program, it was found that a 1/4'' Nd:YAG amplifier and a Faraday rotator isolator must be added to the oscillator to obtain the required power for the laser excitation experiments. The isotopic selectivity of the two-photon dissociation process was examined in more detail. The selectivity or ratio of HTO to H/sub 2/O molecules that are photodissociated was found to be on the order of 25, which is inadequate for application to large-scale detritiation projects, e.g., nuclear fuel reprocessing plant waste. The selectivity is such that most of the laser energy is wasted in photodissociation of H/sub 2/O. This obstacle may be overcome by pumping more vibrational energy into the HTO molecules. Various schemes towards this end are being considered. Extensive ab initio calculations on the potential surface for the hydrogen atom-water exchange reaction have been carried out. The energy barrier is calculated to be 38 1/2 kcal/mole, which implies that the exchange reaction T + H/sub 2/O ..-->.. HTO + H is at least 10/sup 9/ times slower than the exchange reaction T + H/sub 2/ ..-->.. HT + H. Calculations were also performed on the analogous hydrogen atom-hydrogen fluoride exchange reaction. In lieu of other disposal methods a system using a General Electric UCT-1 regenerative cell has been assembled and tested. This system should be capable of decomposing pure water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The tritium from this process can be purified and reused instead of buried. A preliminary economic evaluation was made of the HT/H/sub 2/O catalytic exchange detritiation stripping process as it might apply to a 5 metric ton/day nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. A tritiated water shipping container has been designed and developed for use with the ERDA--DOT approved AL--MI secondary container.},
doi = {10.2172/7196258},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 19 00:00:00 EST 1976},
month = {Fri Mar 19 00:00:00 EST 1976}
}

Technical Report:

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  • In the tritiated liquid waste decontamination by molecular excitation studies, further calculations were performed on the hydrogen atom-water exchange reactions. Assembly and testing of the cell to be used for the measurement of the HTO IR spectrum were completed. As a result of findings from trial loadings using HD as a surrogate for HT in the oxidation system, it is believed that larger quantities of HTO will be required to obtain the desired ir spectrum. This appears to be a result of a significant adsorption of the water on the inner surface of the spectrometer cell. In the catalytic exchangemore » detritiation studies, leak checking and cold operational testing of the experimental apparatus were completed. Modifications were made to improve the operability and reliability of the system as originally designed by Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corp. A computer program was prepared for the calculation of twelve hydrogen isotopic compounds in thermodynamic equilibrium. This program based on the free energy minimization technique produced data on the equilibrium concentrations of tritium compounds from reactants with various T/D/H/O ratios (e.g., T/H = approximately 10/sup -8/ to approximately 10/sup -2/) at temperatures ranging from 300 to 800/sup 0/K. The bourdon tube pressure gage on the prototype shipping container has been replaced with a 316 stainless steel pressure transducer to decrease the mechanical vulnerability of the package. Procedures have been established for usage and safety testing the primary container and a safety analysis review for the complete assembly in the AL-Ml outer shipping container has been initiated.« less
  • A series of experiments was conducted to determine the amount of tritium needed in the spectrometer cell to obtain the infrared spectrum of HTO in the 1 to 5 ..mu..m region. Experiments using HDO as a surrogate indicated that 400 mCi of tritium would be required. Test loading experiments with HTO were performed and monitored with an ionization chamber. Adsorption of water on the surfaces was found to be a serious problem in obtaining quantitative material balances in the system. Improved real-time tritium monitoring systems were installed in the Tritium Control Laboratory to monitor stack effluents, room air, and processmore » streams. Design and layout of components were completed and procurement was begun for a tritium handling and gas recirculation system which will permit calibration of all types of tritium monitors, performance evaluation of monitoring components, and the study of the effect of various monitoring conditions.« less
  • The Combined Electrolysis Catalytic Exchange system was operated to experimentally determine mass transfer coefficients and to test the process controller. Values for H/sub OG/ and K/sub tilde y/a were obtained at three separate molar flow ratios (tilde L/tilde G). Replicate values of K/sub tilde y/a from additional runs agreed with initial results to within 16%. Two process controller tests were completed that demonstrated the reliability of the system hardware and the feasibility of the digital controller software. The feasibility of using a xenon flashlamp source in the uv photodissociation step of the two-photon water-hydrogen laser isotope separation (LIS) process hasmore » been demonstrated with H/sub 2/O/D/sub 2/ and D/sub 2/O/H/sub 2/ photocatalyzed exchange experiments. A nearly 10 : 1 isotopic selectivity between the photodissociation of ground state H/sub 2/O and D/sub 2/O was observed with an unfiltered xenon flashlamp source. The effectiveness of the hydrogen scavenger system was also demonstrated in these experiments. Tests continued on samples of cement and cement-plaster mixtures which were injected with tritiated water, cured, and then impregnated with catalyzed styrene monomer. After polymerization the samples were put into uncontaminated water and the tritium concentration was monitored. No significant differences were noted except in two cases when the polyethylene bottle had been removed, which resulted in 35 times more tritium being released into the surrounding water. The samples still in the polyethylene bottles have released an average of 2.3 Ci to the water. The tritium release study of actual burial packages is continuing. Two additional drums containing octane waste were added to the study, and now all types of liquid waste packaged are represented in the test. The average fractional release from three packages containing oil or water waste is 5 x 10/sup -7/ after 180 weeks.« less
  • The combined Electrolysis Catalytic Exchange system was modified to allow better control of experimental conditions and to prevent the overflow of water into the air detritation system. A program designed to regenerate the activity of the hydrophobic catalyst was also completed. Slight differences in the release rate of high specific activity tritiated liquid wastes from the drums are now beginning to appear. The three drums with the highest fractional permeation rate had the least amount of tritium when packaged. The fractional permeation rate of the two octane drums appears to have leveled off at about the same rate as themore » oil and water drums. Tests continued on samples of cement and cement-plaster mixtures which were injected with 386 Ci of tritiated water, cured, and then impregnated with catalyzed styrene monomer. After polymerization, the samples were put into uncontaminated water and the tritium concentration was monitored. No significant differences were noted except in two cases when the polyethylene bottle had been removed, which resulted in 35 to 80 times more tritium being released into the surrounding water. Full scale (cold) waste drum No. 5 was polymerized with excellent results. Pressure increase and gas composition were measured over (1) tritiated water without fixation, (2) polymer-impregnated concrete, and (3) nonpolymer concrete. Activities for all samples were 10 Ci/m/sup 3/. Pressure buildup results are essentially the same for concrete made with tritiated distilled water and tritiated waste water. However, the pressure buildup rate is slightly higher for the polymer impregnated concrete than for the nonpolymer concrete. Mass analysis of the cover gas over tritiated water without fixation and over the polymer and nonpolymer concrete samples made with tritiated waste water show that hydrogen represents about 85% of the gas generated.« less
  • The tritium effluent control project to reduce emissions at Mound Laboratory and its application to liquid wastes are described. Research progress reported includes increasing the power of the Nd:YAG laser for detritiating voluminous wastes by molecular photoexcitation, and analysis of gas produced from tritiated water and octane. (DLC)