Trial Burn Planning for Mixed Waste Thermal Treatment Technologies - DRAFT
- Energy and Environmental Research Corporation (EER), Irvine, CA (United States)
The U.S. Deprutment of Energy faces a monumental problem associated with the cleanup of facilities previously producing nuclear devices. One of the largest efforts involves treatment and ultimate disposal of mixed (radioactive and hazardous) waste. Numerous conventional and emerging environmental technologies are being developed for this application. However a major impediment to the use of these technologies is the uncertainty associated with permitting requirements for such technologies because of the complex nature of the waste, the variety of treatment technologies, and the lack of clear guidance on permitting such systems. The permitting process for a thermal treatment device generally includes a trial burn. The objective of a trial burn is to demonstrate compliance with standards while the device is operating under worst-case conditions. This report has been prepared to assist mixed waste facilities in the trial burn planning process. The report addresses the following topics for mixed waste thermal treatment: assessment of existing regulations and guidance for permit writers on trial burn plans; review of common trial burn practices; discussion of trial burn issues specifically related to mixed waste thermal treatment; outline of a generic trial burn plan; and development of example trial burn plans for innovative and conventional technologies. It is likely that most mixed waste thermal treatment systems will be classified as incinerators or subjected to the same standards as incinerators under RCRA authority. Incinerator emissions and performance including particulate, DRE and HC1 are primarily regulated under RCRA and TSCA. Permit writers may also impose additional standards for metals, CO, THC, and PICS including dioxins using their Omnibus authority. In generaI, a RCRA trial burn for a mixed hazardous waste incinerator would include the same elements as one for a hazardous waste incinerator. Radioactive components normally present in the mixed waste stream may not need to be present during the trial burn as long as the nonradioactive components were represented at worst case conditions. However, emissions of radionuclides needs to be taken into account when assessing the risk associated with the process. There are a large number of issues which must be considered when planning a tial burn for a hazardous waste thermal treatment device including those relating to worker safety and technology. The overlying and fundamental issue is that mixed wastes represent a greater potential risk to worker safety than do typical hazardous wastes. Some safety issues may be resolved by using non-radioactive surrogate wastes during trial burns and taking advantage of technology robustness and recent advances in mission monitoring to customize waste characterization requirements. Sufficiently over-designed, over-controlled, and over-demonstrated systems can treat a wide range of wastes and still have emissions well below applicable regulatory standards. In addition, commercially available monitors exist for HC1, mercury, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and monitors are under development for toxic metals and organics. Use of these monitors can potentially provide justification for customizing waste characterization requirements, thus reducing the chance of worker exposure. One of the challenges of a trial burn and testing program is to provide information sufficient to make this justification.
- Research Organization:
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USEPA
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI34-93RF00643
- OSTI ID:
- 767380
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/RF/00643-T2; TRN: US2308877
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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