Resolving the Ferrocyanide Safety Issue at the Hanford Site
Considerable data have been obtained on the chemical and physical properties of ferrocyanide waste stored in Hanford Site single-shell tanks (SSTs). Theoretical analyses and ferrocyanide waste simulant studies have led to the development of fuel, moisture, and temperature criteria that define continued safe storage. Developing the criteria provides the technical basis for closing the Ferrocyanide Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ). Using the safety criteria, the ferrocyanide tanks have been ranked into one of three safety categories: Safe, Conditionally Safe, and Unsafe. All the ferrocyanide tanks are currently ranked in either the Safe or Conditionally Safe categories. Analyses of core samples taken from three ferrocyanide tanks have shown cyanide concentrations about a factor of ten lower than predicted by the original flowsheets. Hydrolytic and radiolytic destruction (aging) of the ferrocyanide matrix has occurred during the 35 plus years the waste has been stored at the Hanford Site. Because of waste aging, it is possible that all of the ferrocyanide tanks may now contain less than the 8 wt % sodium nickel ferrocyanide specified in the fuel criterion for the Safe category. Ferrocyanide tanks that remain in the Conditionally Safe category may require monitoring and surveillance to verify that the waste remains in an unreactive state. Further characterization of the tanks by core sampling and analyses should lead to resolution of the Ferrocyanide Safety Issue by September 1997.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10144089
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-SA-2130; CONF-940225-101; ON: DE94010349; BR: 35AF11201/35AF11202; TRN: AHC29410%%3
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste management `94: working towards a cleaner environment,Tucson, AZ (United States),27 Feb - 3 Mar 1994; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tank characterization report for Single-Shell Tank 241-T-107
Ferrocyanide Safety Project Task 3 Ferrocyanide Aging Studies FY 1993 annual report
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
HANFORD RESERVATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
SAFETY ANALYSIS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
CLASSIFICATION
FERROCYANIDES
NITRATES
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS
054000
052002
HEALTH AND SAFETY
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE