Separation Science and Technology, Vol.38, No.12-13, 2923-2950, 2003
Concepts in waste management: Decontamination of plutonium-bearing mixed wastes with efficient water and acid recycle
Two integrated flowsheet concepts are presented for treating high-activity plutonium-contaminated mixed wastes containing materials that generate hydrogen on storage. A specialized electrocell can be used to generate cerium(IV) to dissolve high-fired Plutonium oxides and simultaneously to oxidize organic species in the wastes that are susceptible to hydrogen formation. Nitric acid and water decontamination and recycle can be achieved using resin adsorption without evaporation. Transuranic contamination may be concentrated in a precipitate suitable for incorporation into borosilicate glass or other final waste forms using Fenton's chemistry or, preferably, immobilized in a silicate matrix directly from an adsorption resin and converted to a final waste form. Decontaminated TRU wastes are either converted to low-level wastes or packed to meet transuranic waste packing and shipping requirements. Preliminary results from Oak Ridge National Laboratory suggest that HEPA filter wastes can be processed to achieve decontamination factors of 104 for highly fired Pu oxide. Studies at the Argonne National Laboratory and Florida State University suggest that nitric acid and water can be recycled with decontamination factors in excess of 104 without evaporation. Alternative methods for using this technology are discussed.