Sodium to sodium carbonate conversion process

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871189

Herrmann, Steven D ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID

A method of converting radioactive alkali metal into a low level disposable solid waste material. The radioactive alkali metal is atomized and introduced into an aqueous caustic solution having caustic present in the range of from about 20 wt % to about 70 wt % to convert the radioactive alkali metal to a radioactive alkali metal hydroxide. The aqueous caustic containing radioactive alkali metal hydroxide and CO.sub.2 are introduced into a thin film evaporator with the CO.sub.2 present in an amount greater than required to convert the alkali metal hydroxide to a radioactive alkali metal carbonate, and thereafter the radioactive alkali metal carbonate is separated from the thin film evaporator as a dry powder. Hydroxide solutions containing toxic metal hydroxide including one or more metal ions of Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag and T1 can be converted into a low level non-hazardous waste using the thin film evaporator of the invention.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5678240
• OSTI ID: 871189
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

sodium
carbonate
conversion
process
method
converting
radioactive
alkali
metal
level
disposable
solid
waste
material
atomized
introduced
aqueous
caustic
solution
range
20
wt
70
convert
hydroxide
containing
film
evaporator
amount
required
thereafter
separated
dry
powder
solutions
toxic
including
sb
cd
pb
hg
t1
converted
non-hazardous
caustic solution
toxic metal
conversion process
sodium carbonate
hazardous waste
waste material
alkali metal
solutions containing
solid waste
metal hydroxide
dry powder
radioactive alkali
metal carbonate
containing radioactive
metal carbon
film evaporator
hydroxide solution
aqueous caustic
oxide including
oxide solution
/588/423/