Bioprocessing of a stored mixed liquid waste
- Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Mound Applied Technologies, Miamisburg, OH (United States); and others
This paper describes the development and results of a demonstration for a continuous bioprocess for mixed waste treatment. A key element of the process is an unique microbial strain which tolerates high levels of aromatic solvents and surfactants. This microorganism is the biocatalysis of the continuous flow system designed for the processing of stored liquid scintillation wastes. During the past year a process demonstration has been conducted on commercial formulation of liquid scintillation cocktails (LSC). Based on data obtained from this demonstration, the Ohio EPA granted the Mound Applied Technologies Lab a treatability permit allowing the limited processing of actual mixed waste. Since August 1994, the system has been successfully processing stored, {open_quotes}hot{close_quotes} LSC waste. The initial LSC waste fed into the system contained 11% pseudocumene and detectable quantities of plutonium. Another treated waste stream contained pseudocumene and tritium. Data from this initial work shows that the hazardous organic solvent, and pseudocumene have been removed due to processing, leaving the aqueous low level radioactive waste. Results to date have shown that living cells are not affected by the dissolved plutonium and that 95% of the plutonium was sorbed to the biomass. This paper discusses the bioprocess, rates of processing, effluent, and the implications of bioprocessing for mixed waste management.
- Research Organization:
- Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 240899
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951209-; ON: DE96005882; TRN: 96:013558
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 17. low-level radioactive waste management conference, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 12-14 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings: 17th annual US Department of Energy low-level radioactive waste management conference; Lake, D. [ed.]; PB: 480 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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