Solid forms for Savannah River Plant radioactive wastes

Methods are being developed to immobilize Savannah River Plant wastes in solid forms such as cement, asphalt, or glass. 137Cs and 90Sr are the major biological hazards and heat producers in the alkaline wastes produced at SRP. In the conceptual process being studied, 137Cs removed from alkaline supernates, together with insoluble sludges that contain 90Sr, will be incorporated into solid forms of high integrity and low volume suitable for storage in a retrievable surface storage facility for about 100 years, and for eventual shipment to an off-site repository. Mineralization of 137Cs, or its fixation on zeolite prior to incorporation into solid forms, is also being studied. Economic analyses to reduce costs and fault-tree analyses to minimize risks are being conducted. Methods are being studied for removal of sludge from (and final decontamination of) waste tanks