Research Opportunities for Managing the Department of Energy's Transuranic and Mixed Wastes (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix B: The Transuranic and Mixed Waste Inventory
Appendix B: The Transuranic and Mixed Waste Inventory
Pages 91-102
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From page 91... ...
of metal at Hanford, Washington; Rocky Flats, Colorado; Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and other supporting sites. The lower-activity wastes from these operations ranged from trash contaminated with plutonium, to process wastes (e.g., organic sludges or waste contaminated with metallic compounds)
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From page 92... ...
The chemical or radiological contents of many waste streams contain individual substances or mixtures of components that complicate the selection and application of treatment systems. required, but energetic gamma and neutron emissions from certain TRU nuclides and fission product contaminants may require shielding or remote handling.
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From page 93... ...
Other sources of information are necessary to complete the description of the inventory. For the purpose of developing site treatment plans in the early 1 990s, the Department of Energy directed all sites to evaluate the inventory of accumulated TRU and mixed waste based on the best information TABLE B.1 Overview of the DOE's Transuranic anc Mixec Wastes Volume Origin TRU (m3)
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From page 94... ...
was also assigned to the data established for each waste stream in the categories of matrix or physical state, chemical composition, and radioactivity. Although the inventory lacks high confidence in characterization of all waste streams, it does allow study of the potential problems of treatment and disposal confronting DOE.
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From page 95... ...
The retrievably stored MLLW, the pond residues, and the previously buried MLLW or pond waste that is excavated must be treated to meet RCRA Land Disposal Restrictions and the requirements of the USNRC for disposal of radioactive materials. Chemical and radiological composition becomes a significant issue in the selection, design, and operation of treatment systems.
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From page 96... ...
It contains one or more of over 700 materials listed as hazardous by the EPA; Metal Debris: Metal with or without lead or cadmium Inorganic Nonmetal Debris: Concrete, glass, ceramic or brick, rock, asbestos, and graphite · Organic Debris: Plastic or rubber, leaded gloves or aprons, halogenated plastics, nonhalogenated plastics, wood, paper, and biological matter · Heterogeneous Debris: Composite filters, asphalt, electronic equipment, and other inorganic and organic materials Inorganic Homogeneous Solids and Soils · Inorganic Homogeneous Solids: Particulate matter such asash,sandblastingmedia,inorganic particulate absorbents, absorbed organic liquids, ion-exchange media, metal chips or turnings, glass or ceramic materials, and activated carbon Inorganic Sludges: Wastewater treatment pond, off-gas treatment, plating waste, and low-level reprocessing sludges Other Inorganic Waste: Paint waste (chips, solids, and sludges) , salt waste containing chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, metal oxides or hydroxides, and inorganic chemicals Solidified Homogeneous Solids: Soil, soil/debris, and rock/gravel TABLE B.3 Percentage Distribution of ~nventoriec Waste by Volume Category TRU MTRU MLLW Pond Residue Aqueous 0.1 9 Organic 2 0.5 4 Solids 2 28 25 100 Debris 95 71 57 Unique 1 0.1 4 T R A N S U R A N ~ C A N D M ~ x E D W A S T E S 96
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From page 97... ...
· Meta//ic compounds (metalsJ: Compou nds contai n i ng elements such as chromium, cadmium, and lead are commonly treated by grouting, which converts these materials to an insoluble form, resistant to leaching and acceptable for land disposal. Toxic organic materials and solvents (organics and solventsJ: This category includes halogenated and nonhalogenated solvents commonly found in industry and declared by EPA to be either toxic or hazardous.
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From page 98... ...
The unique waste category contains a high percentage of reactive materials such as sodium-potassium alloy, pyrophoric materials, explosives, and compressed gases that pose special treatment problems. Metals, mercury, and organics or solvents are selected as major chemical classes in Table B.4.
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From page 99... ...
As noted above, 77 percent of the debris category contains total organics and solvents above levels acceptable for land disposal. However, 16 percent of the debris volume contains both organic materials and mercury.
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From page 100... ...
The permitting of disposal faci I ities requ ires a performance assessment of proposed sites to ensure adequate containment of the radioactivity. Table B.5 shows levels of radioactivity associated with the various classes of waste.
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From page 101... ...
. TRU and MTRU Waste Although free from RCRA treatment requ i remeets, TRU and MTRU waste must meet transportation and waste acceptance criteria for WIPP.
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From page 102... ...
Organic materials 53 50 Pu-238 91 72 PCBs 1 — Reactive 1 3 Corrosive 35 Remote handled 4 3 Aqueous, organic, and unique category wastes 0.6 Organic material content is one measure of the ability of the waste to generate hydrogen, others being the type and energy of associated radioactivity and possible microbiological activity.3 A high percentage of both TRU and MTRU wastes contains organic material as well as Pu-238. Significant work is in progress to understand the mechanism of hydrogen formation resulting from radiolysis and methods to control the accumulation of hydrogen during shipment to WIPP.
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