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Title: Hanford Sr/TRU Decontamination Program: Research from Beaker to Pilot Scale

Conference ·
OSTI ID:808208

Plutonium and americium are present in the Hanford High Level Liquid Waste complexant concentrate (CC) waste due to the presence of complexing agents including di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), tributylphosphate (TBP), hydroxyethylene diamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid, glycolic acid, and sodium gluconate. The transuranic (TRU) concentrations approach 600 nCi/g and require processing prior to encapsulation into low activity glass. The Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) has been actively participating in the development of a strontium/TRU decontamination process for the CC waste stored at Hanford in Tanks AN-107 and AN-102. The current baseline flowsheet involves the addition of strontium nitrate to effectively remove radio-strontium through an isotopic dilution, followed by a sodium permanganate strike to co-precipitate the actinides in the in-situ produced manganese solid phases. Demonstration efforts to validate the Sr/TRU flowsheet have included beaker scale reagent optimization and reaction kinetics testing and engineering scale-up experiments at the multi-liter and 1/100th plant scale (200-gallon) using both simulated and actual waste samples. Several key process engineering and process chemistry needs were identified during a recent Hanford Waste Treatment Plant project risk review.

Research Organization:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-96SR18500
OSTI ID:
808208
Report Number(s):
WSRC-MS-2003-00110; TRN: US0301973
Resource Relation:
Conference: Plutonium Futures - The Science Conference, Albuquerque, NM (US), 07/06/2003--07/10/2003; Other Information: PBD: 18 Feb 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English