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Research Opportunities for Managing the Department of Energy's Transuranic and Mixed Wastes (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix C: History of Alternatives to Incineration
Pages 103-106

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From page 103...
... The report evaluated technologies that are alternatives to open-flame, free-oxygen combustion. Alternative technologies were defined as those that have the potential to destroy organic materials without use of open-flame reactions with free gas-phase oxygen as the reaction mechanism, reduce the off-gas volume and associated contaminants emitted under normal operating conditions, eliminate or reduce the production of dioxins and furans, and reduce the potential for excursions in the process that can lead to accidental release of harmful levels of chemical or radioactive materials.
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From page 104...
... More recently, the Transuranic and Mixed Waste Focus Area published brief descriptions of several technologies including mediated electrochemical oxidation, plasma arc systems and direct-current (DC) arc melters, reverse polymerization, solvated electron dehalogenation, steam reforming, and supercritical water oxidation.3 In April 2000, following a dispute over the proposed construction of an incinerator for treatment of radioactive mixed waste at INEEL, DOE appointed a blue-ribbon panel of independent experts to explore alternatives to incineration that might become available for use at DOE facilities nationwide (DOE, 2000b)
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From page 105...
... Because its emphasis is on sending TRU wastes to WIPP, DOE perceives few current incentives to develop true replacement technologies for incineration those that would destroy essentially all organic materials in a wide variety of wastes and provide large volume reductions of combustible wastes. Developing these technologies, which may be required to treat large volumes of MLLW to meet EPA disposal requirements, remains a challenge as discussed in Chapter 3.
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Key Terms

  • chemical oxidation
  • action plan
  • mixed waste
  • organic materials
  • electrochemical oxidation

  • waste focus
  • mediated electrochemical
  • direct chemical
  • evaluated alternative
  • tru waste

  • cerium mediated
  • technologies including
  • public opposition
  • restricted shipment
  • steam reforming

  • pilot plant
  • volume reductions
  • proposed construction
  • forced doe
  • improve incineration

  • commercial technologies
  • radioactive materials
  • technological alternatives
  • environmental laboratory
  • shipped due

  • contaminated inorganic
  • develop true
  • hydrogen generation
  • strategy described
  • thermal desorption


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