No abstract

A laboratory crucible study was conducted to develop waste forms to treat nonradioactive simulated u8Pu heterogeneous debris waste fiom Savannah River, metal waste fiom the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), and nominal waste also fiom INEL using DC arc melting. The preliminary results showed that the different waste form compositions had vastly different responses for each processing effect. The reducing condition of DC arc melting had no significant effects on the durability of some waste forms while it decreased the waste form durability fiom 300 to 700% for other waste forms, which resulted in the failure of some TCLP tests. The right formulations of waste can benefit from devitrification and showed an increase in durability by 40%. Some formulations showed no devitrification effects while others decreased durability by 200%. Increased waste loading also affected waste form behavior, decreasing durability for one waste, increasing durability by 240% for another, and showing no effect for the third waste. All of these responses to the processing and composition variations were dictated by the fbndamental glass chemistry and can be adjusted to achieve maximal waste loading, acceptable durability, and desired processing characteristics if each waste formulation is designed for the result according to the glass chemistry.

A DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatun, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

The general area i n which t h e unplanned release occurred COORDINATES: The exact 1 ocation o f t h e unplanned re1 ease DESCRIPTION OF RELEASE: A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e events surrounding t h e unplanned re1 ease DATE OF OCCURRENCE: The date i n which t h e release occurred DESCRIPTION OF WASTE: A d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e c o n s t i t u e n t s involved i n *he re1 ease

The objective of this study by Pacific Northwest Laboratory was to assess the impact that past and potential future discharges of ammoniated water to the 216-A-36B crib have on groundwater and river concentrations of hazardous chemical constituents. Until August 1987, the 216-A-36B crib, located in the 200-East Area of the Hanford Site, accepted ammoniated water discharges. Although this study addresses known hazardous chemical constituents associated with such discharges, the primary concern is the discharge of NH»0H because of its microbiological conversion to NOZ and NOZ. As a result of fuel decladding operations, material balance calculations indicate that NH.OH has been discharged to the 216-A-36B crib in amounts that exceed reportable quantities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980. Although flow to the crib is relatively constant, the estimated NH.OH discharge varies from negligible to a maximum of 10,000 g-moles/h. Because these discharges are intermittent, the concentration delivered to the groundwater is a function of soil sorption, microbiological conversion rates of NH-to N0Z and H0Z, and groundwater dispersion. This report provides results based on the assumptions of maximum, nominal, and discontinued NH,0H discharges to the crib. Consequently, the results + show maximum and realistic estimates of NH-, N0« and NO., concentrations in the groundwater. Because this study shows NH. conversions to N0Z and H0Z to be rapid and complete, predicted concentrations of N0Z in the groundwater caused by NH. discharges to the crib are noticeable. The calculated groundwater concentrations beneath the crib would be 430 mg/L N0Z under maximum yearly average operations and 320 mg/L under conditions representing past operations during fiscal years 1984 through 1987. (For comparison purposes, drinking water standards, although they do not apply because there are no community water systems on the Hanford Site, are 45 mg/L.) These predicted concentrations compare favorably with measured groundwater N0^ concentrations in the vicinity of the crib. Therefore, we conclude that ammoniated water discharges to the 216-A-36B crib have a significant effect on observed N0^ concentrations in the ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their gratitude to all contributors of this report. Westinghouse Hanford Company provided much of the technical information on decladding and crib operations. Significant contributors from Pacific Northwest Laboratory included Frank Hara and Kris McFadden-analytical support; Kathy Cramer-review of regulations; Barb Denovan-NH.OH conversion studies; Wayne Martin, Clark Lindenmeier, and Stephanie McLaurineadsorption/desorption laboratory work; Virgina LeGore-radionuclide counting; and Paula Heller-sediment physical property measurements.