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Title: Studies of Potential Inhibitors of Sodium Aluminosilicate Scales in High-Level Waste Evaporation

Abstract

The Savannah River Site (SRS) has 49 underground storage tanks used to store High Level Waste (HLW). The tank space in these tanks must be managed to support the continued operation of key facilities. The reduction of the tank volumes in these tanks are accomplished through the use of three atmospheric pressure HLW evaporators. For a decade, evaporation of highly alkaline HLW containing dissolved aluminate and silicate has produced sodium aluminosilicate scales causing both operation and criticality hazards in the 2H Evaporator System. Segregation of aluminum-rich wastes from silicate-rich wastes minimizes the amount of scale produced and reduces cleaning expenses, but does not eliminate the scaling nor increases operation flexibility in waste process. Similar issues have affected the aluminum refining industry for many decades. Over the past several years, successful commercial products have been identified to eliminate aluminosilicate fouling in the aluminum industry, but have not been utilized in a nuclear environment. Laboratory quantities of three proprietary aluminosilicate scale inhibitors have been produced and been shown to prevent formation of scales. SRNL has been actively testing these potential inhibitors to examine their radiation stability, radiolytic degradation behaviors, and downstream impacts to determine their viability within the HLW system. One ofmore » the tested polymers successfully meets the established criteria for application in the nuclear environment. This paper will describe a summary of the methodology used to prioritize laboratory testing protocols based on potential impacts/risks identified for inhibitor deployment at SRS. (authors)« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Savannah River National Laboratory, Defense Waste Processing Facility, Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
21326161
Report Number(s):
INIS-US-10-WM-08433
TRN: US10V0613067526
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: WM'08: Waste Management Symposium 2008 - HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Management - Phoenix Rising: Moving Forward in Waste Management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 24-28 Feb 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France; 15 refs
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ALUMINATES; ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; ENVIRONMENT; EVAPORATORS; HAZARDS; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT; SILICATES; UNDERGROUND STORAGE

Citation Formats

Oji, L N, Fellinger, T L, Hobbs, D T, Badheka, N P, and Wilmarth, W R. Studies of Potential Inhibitors of Sodium Aluminosilicate Scales in High-Level Waste Evaporation. United States: N. p., 2008. Web.
Oji, L N, Fellinger, T L, Hobbs, D T, Badheka, N P, & Wilmarth, W R. Studies of Potential Inhibitors of Sodium Aluminosilicate Scales in High-Level Waste Evaporation. United States.
Oji, L N, Fellinger, T L, Hobbs, D T, Badheka, N P, and Wilmarth, W R. 2008. "Studies of Potential Inhibitors of Sodium Aluminosilicate Scales in High-Level Waste Evaporation". United States.
@article{osti_21326161,
title = {Studies of Potential Inhibitors of Sodium Aluminosilicate Scales in High-Level Waste Evaporation},
author = {Oji, L N and Fellinger, T L and Hobbs, D T and Badheka, N P and Wilmarth, W R},
abstractNote = {The Savannah River Site (SRS) has 49 underground storage tanks used to store High Level Waste (HLW). The tank space in these tanks must be managed to support the continued operation of key facilities. The reduction of the tank volumes in these tanks are accomplished through the use of three atmospheric pressure HLW evaporators. For a decade, evaporation of highly alkaline HLW containing dissolved aluminate and silicate has produced sodium aluminosilicate scales causing both operation and criticality hazards in the 2H Evaporator System. Segregation of aluminum-rich wastes from silicate-rich wastes minimizes the amount of scale produced and reduces cleaning expenses, but does not eliminate the scaling nor increases operation flexibility in waste process. Similar issues have affected the aluminum refining industry for many decades. Over the past several years, successful commercial products have been identified to eliminate aluminosilicate fouling in the aluminum industry, but have not been utilized in a nuclear environment. Laboratory quantities of three proprietary aluminosilicate scale inhibitors have been produced and been shown to prevent formation of scales. SRNL has been actively testing these potential inhibitors to examine their radiation stability, radiolytic degradation behaviors, and downstream impacts to determine their viability within the HLW system. One of the tested polymers successfully meets the established criteria for application in the nuclear environment. This paper will describe a summary of the methodology used to prioritize laboratory testing protocols based on potential impacts/risks identified for inhibitor deployment at SRS. (authors)},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21326161}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008},
month = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008}
}

Conference:
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