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Americium/Curium Vitrification Process Development Part II

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Andrew P. Fellinger ,
Mark A. Baich ,
Jon W. Duvall ,
Timothy M. Jones ,
John E. Marra ,
Carey B. Miller ,
Donald H. Miller ,
David K. Peeler ,
Theresa K. Snyder  and
Michael E. Stone
...Show all authors
Andrew P. Fellinger
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Mark A. Baich
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Jon W. Duvall
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Timothy M. Jones
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
John E. Marra
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Carey B. Miller
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Donald H. Miller
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
David K. Peeler
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Theresa K. Snyder
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Michael E. Stone
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
Douglas C. Witt
Affiliation:
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808
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Abstract

At the Savannah River Site (SRS) we are currently finalizing the design for a multi-system vitrification process that will be installed in the F-Canyon Multi-Purpose Process Facility (MPPF), an existing highly shielded, remotely operated facility. Authorization to proceed beyond the preliminary design based on the recommendation of a Formal Design Review Board was requested in May of 1999.

The Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) Process Development Group has been conducting research and developing a process to identify equipment design bases and process operating parameters since 1996. The goal of the project is to stabilize a tank of ∼11,000 liters of nitric acid solution containing valuable isotopes of americium (Am) and curium (Cm). Vitrification has been selected as the most attractive alternative for stabilization and provides the opportunity for recovery and eventual reuse of the actinides. The final glass form will be placed in interim storage awaiting a disposition by the Department of Energy. This paper presents a brief history of the stabilization program and an overview of the entire Am/Cm stabilization process. This paper also provides details of a specific processing issue related to drain tube pluggage (devitrification) that was encountered during the development of the baseline batch vitrification process, and the remedy employed to reduce the potential for further drain tube pluggage.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 608: Symposium QQ – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIII , 1999 , 703
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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References

REFERENCES

1 Smith, M.E., Fellinger, A.P., Jones, T.M., Miller, C.B., Miller, D.H., Snyder, T.K., Stone, M.E., and Witt, D.C., “Americium/Curium Melter 2A Pilot Tests (U),” published in the Environmental Issues and Waste Management Technologies in Ceramic and Nuclear Industries IV, Volume 93, The American Ceramic Society, 1999, pp. 381–389.Google Scholar
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