Mercury Reduction and Removal During High-Level Radioactive Waste Processing and Vitrification

1981 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell E. Eibling ◽  
John R. fowler
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Borosilicate Glass ◽  
Processing Temperature ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Savannah River Plant ◽  
Reference Process ◽  
Glass Melter ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTA reference process for immobilizing the high-level radioactive waste in borosilicate glass has been developed at the Savannah River Plant. This waste contains a substantial amount of mercury from separations processing. Because mercury will not remain in borosilicate glass at the processing temperature, mercury must be removed before vitrification or must be handled in the off-gas system. A process has been developed to remove mercury by reduction with formic acid prior to vitrification. Additional benefits of formic acid treatment include improved sludge handling and glass melter redox control.

scholarly journals High-Level Radioactive Insoluble Waste Preparation for Vitrification

1984 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Hamm ◽  
R. E. Eibling ◽  
M. A. Ebra ◽  
T. Motyka ◽  
H. D. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Borosilicate Glass ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
Soluble Salts ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Savannah River Plant ◽  
High Level

AbstractAt the Savannah River Plant (SRP), a process has been developed for immobilizing high-level radioactive waste in a borosilicate glass. The waste is currently stored as soluble salts and insoluble solids. Insoluble waste as stored requires further processing before vitrification is possible. The processes required have been developed and demonstrated with actual waste. They include removal of aluminum in some waste, washing soluble salts out of the insoluble waste, and mercury stripping. Each of the processes and the results with actual SRP waste will be discussed. The benefits of each step will also be included.

scholarly journals Vitrification of High-Level Radioactive Waste in a Small-Scale Joule-Heated Ceramic Melter

1981 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald B. Woolsey ◽  
M. John Plodinec
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Liquid Waste ◽  
Glass Frit ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
Savannah River Plant ◽  
Reference Process ◽  
High Level ◽  
Large Scale Tests

ABSTRACTVitrification is the reference process for the immobilization of radioactive waste from the production of defense materials at the Savannah River Plant (SRP). Since 1979, a small vitrification facility (1 Ib/hr) has been operated at the Savannah River Laboratory using actual SRP waste. In previous studies. dried waste was fed to this smaller melter. This report discusses direct feeding of actual liquid-waste slurries to the small melter. These liquidfeeding tests demonstrated that addition of premelted glass frit to the waste slurry reduces the amount of material volatilized. Results of these tests are in accord with results of large-scale tests with actual waste.

Effects of Alpha, Gamma, and Alpha-Recoil Radiation on Borosilicate Glass Containing Savannah River Plant Defense High-Level Nuclear Waste

1981 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned E. Bibler
Keyword(s):  
Borosilicate Glass ◽  
Deionized Water ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
Γ Radiation ◽  
Leach Rate ◽  
Geologic Storage ◽  
Savannah River Plant ◽  
Pb Ions ◽  
High Level ◽  
Doped Glass

ABSTRACTAt the Savannah River Plant, the reference process for the immobilization of defense high-level waste (DHLW) for geologic storage is vitrification into borosilicate glass. During geologic storage for 106y, the glass would be exposed to ∼3 × 1010 rad of β radiation, ∼1010 rad of γ radiation, and 1018 particles/g glass for both α and α-recoil radiation. This paper discusses tests of the effect of these radiations on the leachability and density of the glass. No effect of the radiations was detected that reduced the effectiveness of the glass for long-term storage of DHLW even at doses corresponding to 106 years storage for the actual glass. For the tests, glass containing simulated DHLW was prepared from frit of the reference composition. Three methods were used to irradiate the glass: external irradiations with beams of ∼200 keV or Pb ions, internal irradiations with Cm–244 doped glass, and external irradiations with Co–60 γ rays. Results with both Xe and Pb ions indicate that a dose of 3 × 1013 ions/cm2 (simulating >106 years storage) does not significantly increase the leachability of the glass in deionized water. Tests with Cm–244 doped glass show no increase in leach rate in deionized water up to a dose of 1.3 × 1018 α and α-recoils/g glass. The density of the Cm–244 doped glass has decreased by 1% at a dose of 1018 particles/g glass. With γ-radiation, the density has changed by <0.05% at a dose of 8.5 × 1010 rad. Results of leach tests in deionized water and brine indicated that this very large dose of γ-radiation increased the leach rate by only 20%. Also, the leach rates are 3 to 4 times lower in brine.

scholarly journals Hydrogen Generation During Treatment of Simulated High-Level Radioactive Waste with Formic Acid

1993 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Ritter ◽  
John R. Zamecnik ◽  
Chia-Lin W. Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
High Level
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