Development of Biodegradable Isosaccharinate-Containing Foams for Decontamination of Actinides: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Reactions between Isosaccharinate and Actinides on Metal and Concrete Surfaces

Technical Report · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/835042· OSTI ID:835042

Rai, Dhanpat; Moore, Robert C; Tucker, Mark D; Rao, Linfeng

Actinide contamination of steel and concrete surfaces is a major problem within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. For steel surfaces, the primary problem is contamination of sections of nuclear power reactors, weapons production facilities, laboratories, and waste tanks. For concrete, there are an estimated 18,000 acres of concrete contaminated with radioactive materials that need decontamination. Significant efforts have gone into developing decontamination technologies. Almost all current decontamination technologies rely on removal of the contaminated surface layer by mechanical means or by chemical methods using harsh chemicals. Some of the technologies are ineffective. Others are expensive, labor intensive, and hazardous to workers. Still others create secondary mixed wastes that are not environmentally acceptable.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA; Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
• OSTI ID: 835042
• Report Number(s): EMSP-82715-2002
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
CONCRETES
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
KINETICS
NUCLEAR POWER
PRODUCTION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REMOVAL
STEELS
TANKS
THERMODYNAMICS
WASTES
WEAPONS