Environmental evaluation of alternatives for long-term management of Defense high-level radioactive wastes at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant

AbstractCandidate products are being evaluated to immobilize the routinely calcined waste at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP). A potential product with minimal volume for immobilizing ICPP high-level waste (HLW) for final disposal is a high-waste-loading and high-density glass-ceramic. Glass-ceramics are formed by Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIPing) the HLW with selected additives, such as SiO2, B2O3, Li2O, Na2O, and Y2O3. Glass-ceramic products have been formed with calcine loa ings up to 80 wt% and densities up to 3.4 g/cm3. Crystalline phases observed in the glass-ceramic products include calcium fluoride, monoclinic and cubic zirconia, calcium- and yttrium-stabilized zirconia, and zircon. An interstitial amorphous phase also exists consisting of the oxides of silicon, aluminum, boron, and alkalis. The glass-ceramic waste forms give leach rates comparable to simulated HLW glass products.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Long-Term Irradiation Field in Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology ◽

10.1080/00223131.2000.10874896 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 37 (sup1) ◽

pp. 310-315

Author(s):

H Sawamura ◽

K Nishimura ◽

M Naito ◽

T Ohi ◽

Y Ishihara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radioactive Wastes ◽

Geological Disposal ◽

Irradiation Field ◽

High Level

Download Full-text

Implications of New Radiobiological Insights for the Long Term Management of High Level Radioactive Waste

Energy & Environment ◽

10.1260/095830508784641381 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (3-4) ◽

pp. 497-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Keith Baverstock

Keyword(s):

Radioactive Waste ◽

High Level Radioactive Waste ◽

High Level ◽

Term Management

Download Full-text

Characteristics of Preliminary Waste Forms for Icpp Low Activity Waste (Law) Fractions after Radionuclide Separations

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-412-131 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 412 ◽

Author(s):

Krishna Vinjamuri

Keyword(s):

Structural Parameters ◽

Chemical Durability ◽

Liquid Sodium ◽

Processing Plant ◽

Chemical Processing ◽

Waste Streams ◽

Standard Glass ◽

Radioactive Sodium ◽

High Level ◽

Low Activity

AbstractCurrently, at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) there are about 6800 m3 of liquid sodium-bearing and liquid high-level wastes (HLW), and 3800 m3 of solid calcined HLW. One of the waste processing options under consideration includes separation of the HLW into high activity and low activity (LAW) wastes, followed by immobilization. Preliminary glasses were synthesized for the sodium-bearing, alumina-bearing, and the zirconia-bearing LAW fractions after radionuclide separations. The glasses were formed by crucible melting of a mixture of reagent chemicals representative of the LAW waste streams and frit additives at 1200 °C for 5 hours, followed by overnight annealing at 550 °C and furnace cooling of the melt. These glasses were characterized for density, elastic property, viscosity, chemical durability, structural parameters, and glass phase separation. The results are compared with that of the Hanford's standard glass ARM-i, Savannah River's benchmark glass EA, and the ICPP's grout waste form prepared using the simulated non-radioactive sodium-bearing waste fraction.

Download Full-text