Evaluation consolidation projects

During development, evaluation of the consolidated materials was based primarily on two criteria, leachability and the concentration factor, i.e., the concentration of waste oxides on a volume basis. The concentration factor is directly affected by the residual porosity in a consolidated waste as well as by the dilution caused by the addition of consolidation aids. This factor can be as high as 1.2 g/cm3 for a fully dense ( 5 g/cm ) titanate waste prepared from the projected Barnwell plant solution composition. The factor is slightly lower for a titanate waste containing silicon and zeolite additions, which has a typical density of U.2 g/cm3. The leachability was determined by an "instantaneous leach test developed for fast, comparative evaluations of materials, the details of which are described elsewhere (l6). 

The principles for evaluations have been continuously reviewed and updated to take account of new scientific knowledge. FAO and WHO have recently initiated a project to update and consolidate principles for the assessment of food additives, contaminants, residues of veterinary drugs in food, and pesticide residues in food. 

In the cement concrete industry the recommended practice is to consolidate low slump mixes by vibration and high slump mixes with hand tools. For example, ASTM Method C 192 (6) specifies consolidating test specimens by vibration if the slump is less than 1 in. Relationships between workability and ease of placing sand-asphalt-sulfur mixes are being evaluated on various field projects to assess the workability requirements for mix placement with various types of equipment. 

The financial problems are also leading to mergers and takeovers of financially troubled hospitals by health care systems in better financial health. Industrial engineers are being asked to work with individuals from finance on projects related to mergers and consolidation of services to evaluate the financial impact of alternative courses of action. 

The consolidation phase in progress since December 1997 covers the validation with Minatom of the basic options and data. It also includes the preparation of the first Russian documents to start the project within Russia, including the justification of investment, a site evaluation, and a first cost estimation. 

With the status of current secondary and tertiary services being as briefly stated above, the innovative approach of the Solubility Data Project is that its compilation and critical evaluation work involve consolidation and reprocessing services when both activities are based on intellectual and scholarly reworking of information from primary sources, it comprises compact compilation, rationalization and simplification, and the fitting of isolated numerical data into a critically evaluated general framework. 

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