Pyrolysis and melt solidification test of β,γ solid wastes by microwave heating

To aim at more decreasing volume and stable solidification for the β, γ solid wastes which are unburnable and give harmful effects to the furnace and spent ion exchange resin, we investigated and experimented the pyrolysis and melt solidification treatment by the microwave heating. And in the melt solidification treatment we investigated the melt solidification characteristics about incinerator ash, sludge and sand. We obtained the following results. (1) Simulated β, γ solid wastes samples were pyrolyzed easily by itself or by mixing other samples, and they were changed to low molecular weight gas component. (2) In the pyrolysis treatment, ashing treatment and melt solidification treatment, the volatilization rates of tracer to off-gas system were not influenced by the microwave power or the volume of purge gas, etc.. And each sample had characteristic volatilization rates. (3) The total volatilization rates were 15.7 % for 137Cs and 2.9 % for 60Co in the pyrolysis and melt solidification treatment. (4) The total volume reduction ratio was about 1500 (the total weight reduction ratio :about 70) in the mixture of cloth, paper and polyvinyl chloride sheet, though the value varies in the sort of wastes. (5) The volume reduction ratio of simulated incinerator ash, simulated sludge and sand was 11, 5 and 1.5, respectively. Thus, we obtained good results entirely in the pyrolysis and melt solidification treatment of the simulated β, γ solid wastes by microwave heating. (author)