Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process
Abstract
A method is described for converting radioactive alkali metal into a low level disposable solid waste material. The radioactive alkali metal is atomized and introduced into an aqueous caustic solution having caustic present in the range of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % to convert the radioactive alkali metal to a radioactive alkali metal hydroxide. The aqueous caustic containing radioactive alkali metal hydroxide and CO{sub 2} are introduced into a thin film evaporator with the CO{sub 2} present in an amount greater than required to convert the alkali metal hydroxide to a radioactive alkali metal carbonate, and thereafter the radioactive alkali metal carbonate is separated from the thin film evaporator as a dry powder. Hydroxide solutions containing toxic metal hydroxide including one or more metal ions of Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag and Tl can be converted into a low level non-hazardous waste using the thin film evaporator of the invention. 3 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 541724
- Patent Number(s):
- 5678240
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-670,134; TRN: 97:019547
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 14 Oct 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; ALKALI METALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; HYDROLYSIS; CARBON DIOXIDE; SODIUM CARBONATES; SEPARATION PROCESSES; ANTIMONY; ARSENIC; BARIUM; BERYLLIUM; CADMIUM; CHROMIUM; LEAD; MERCURY; NICKEL; SELENIUM; SILVER; THALLIUM; EVAPORATION
Citation Formats
Herrmann, S D. Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Herrmann, S D. Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process. United States.
Herrmann, S D. Tue .
"Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process". United States.
@article{osti_541724,
title = {Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process},
author = {Herrmann, S D},
abstractNote = {A method is described for converting radioactive alkali metal into a low level disposable solid waste material. The radioactive alkali metal is atomized and introduced into an aqueous caustic solution having caustic present in the range of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % to convert the radioactive alkali metal to a radioactive alkali metal hydroxide. The aqueous caustic containing radioactive alkali metal hydroxide and CO{sub 2} are introduced into a thin film evaporator with the CO{sub 2} present in an amount greater than required to convert the alkali metal hydroxide to a radioactive alkali metal carbonate, and thereafter the radioactive alkali metal carbonate is separated from the thin film evaporator as a dry powder. Hydroxide solutions containing toxic metal hydroxide including one or more metal ions of Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag and Tl can be converted into a low level non-hazardous waste using the thin film evaporator of the invention. 3 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}