chemically bonded phosphate ceramics for stabilization - Argonne文档.pdfVIP

CHEMICALLY BONDED PHOSPHATE CERAMICS FOR STABILIZATION AND SOLIDIFICATION OF MIXED WASTE Arun S. Wagh, Dileep Singh, and Seung-Young Jeong Energy Technology Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439 Summary This chapter reviews a novel chemically bonded phosphate ceramic technology developed at Argonne National Laboratory to stabilize low-level radioactive and transuranic mixed waste streams within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. This cement-like technology, which can be used to treat solids, liquids, and sludges by micro- and/or macro-encapsulation and chemical immobilization, is based on chemical reaction between phosphate anions and metal cations to form a strong, dense, and durable matrix that stores the hazardous and radioactive contaminants as insoluble phosphates and microencapsulates insoluble radioactive components. In this chapter, we discuss the thermodynamic basis of phosphate stabilization and present several case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the process in a wide variety of actual waste streams that include low-level mixed ash, transuranics, fission products, radon-emanating wastes, salt solutions, and heterogeneous mercury-containing debris. These case studies demonstrate that the waste forms are not only stable in groundwater environments, but also are nonignitable and hence safe for storage and transportation. The process has been made very versatile and thus can be used to treat wide-ranging chemical species such as those in higher oxidation states, as well as very highly soluble salt solutions. To attain this versatility, we have developed reduction methods and coupled chemical immobilization with macroencapsulation. An independent study has found that