An evaluation of concrete recycling and reuse practices
Nuclear facilities operated by the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and NRC licensees contain many concrete structures that are contaminated with radioactivity. Dismantling these structures will result in significant quantities of waste materials, both contaminated and uncontaminated. Bartlett estimates the total volume of waste from demolition of concrete structures to be on the order of 4 million cubic meters, but that only 20,000 cubic meters would be contaminated with radioactivity. Other studies suggest that as much as 5% of the concrete in these facilities would be contaminated with radioactivity. While the actual quantity of contaminated material should be fixed with greater precision, the fact that so much uncontaminated concrete exists (over 95% of the total 4 million cubic meters) suggests that a program that recycles concrete could produce substantial savings for both government agencies (DOE, DOD) and private companies (NRC licensees). This paper presents a fundamental discussion of (1) various methods of processing concrete, (2) demolition methods, especially those compatible with recycling efforts, and (3) state-of-the-art concrete dismantlement techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (United States). Energy, Environment and Resources Center
- OSTI ID:
- 457171
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961089-; ON: DE97004100; TRN: 97:002105-0020
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Beneficial Reuse `96: 4. annual conference on the recycle and reuse of radioactive scrap metal, Knoxville, TN (United States), 22-24 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Beneficial reuse `96: The fourth annual conference on the recycle and reuse of radioactive scrap metal; PB: 546 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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