Secondary waste streams

ANL claims the technology is promising because radionuclides are separated from waste streams by a simple, compact, cost-effective process that does not produce large secondary waste streams. The MACS process is intended to reduce the complexity of equipment when compared to solvent extraction and ion exchange techniques, and to facilitate scale-up due to the systems inherent simplicity. 

Units stabilize their own off-gas scrubbing and filtration waste, thus preventing the creation of secondary waste streams. 

Although META-LOCK removes radionuclides from contaminated media, it produces a secondary waste stream. The product sludge is radioactive and must be handled and disposed of accordingly. Other additives may be required to process certain contaminants. META-LOCK does not destroy microorganisms. 

Baseline incineration system block diagram indicating major secondary waste streams, 10 1-2 NECDF neutralization process block diagram indicating major secondary waste streams, 10 1-3 Major secondary waste distribution across chemical agent disposal facilities, 12... 

FIGURE 1-1 Baseline incineration system block diagram indicating major secondary waste streams. 

Figure 1-3 gives a pictorial overview of the main secondary waste streams generated across the five operating chemical agent disposal sites. Other common wastes generated at some or all sites but not covered in detail in this report include the following ... 

These wastes are small in volume compared to the major secondary waste streams listed just above. 

Direct chemical agent destruction operations as well as indirect or peripheral operations all result in secondary waste. Indirect or peripheral operations critical to chemical agent disposal facilities include laboratory operations, operations associated with protection of personnel or the environment, and operations associated with maintenance of the facility. The links between direct and indirect process operations and secondary waste streams are described next. 

CMA has estimated the types and quantities of secondary wastes projected to be in storage at the end of operations for each of the five chemical agent disposal facilities included in this study (Table 1-3). These quantities include wastes generated during operations but exclude wastes for which an on-site or off-site disposal option is currently available and is being used. Table 1-3 also does not include closure wastes. Several of the smaller individual waste streams cited earlier are combined in this summary for reporting purposes. The total estimated secondary waste stream inventory at the end of operations based on current practices is... 

Secondary Waste Stream Total Across All Sites Above VSLs Below VSLs... 

Secondary Waste Stream ANCDF PBCDF UMCDF TOCDF NECDF Total Across All Sites... 

Waste Secondary Waste Stream Primary Off-site Treatment/ Disposal Method Site ... 

After equilibrium is reached, the concentration of agent in the vapor space will be measured using near-real-time monitoring (e.g., AC AMS). The specific characterization analysis methodology to be used for each secondary waste stream destined for off-site shipment is detailed in the waste analysis plan (ADEQ, 2006). 

Various measurements are used at the different sites to characterize and classify secondary waste streams for possible shipment to off-site TSDFs. These categories and characterizations are often dictated by the types of waste material involved, the permit requirements, and the availability of an approved, reliable, direct analytical technique. Because some heterogeneous wastes and some porous waste materials do not yield reliable measurements by current analytical techniques deployed at the sites, conservative classifications and or indirect analytical techniques have been used in permit provisions for establishing off-site shipment parameters and requirements. 

The mercury contamination of significant amounts of mustard agent stockpiled at TOCDF is another factor influencing potential carbon disposition. TOCDF is implementing a pollution abatement system filtration system (PFS) that will trap mercury on carbon. The resulting secondary waste stream consisting of carbon with adsorbed mercury will present a unique disposal problem.14... 

Spent activated carbon is generated and is accumulating at each of the five chemical agent disposal facilities. It represents one of the largest secondary waste streams currently projected to remain in storage at the end of munitions destruction operations. 

A distinct advantage of plastic pyrolysis into fuels as a means of recycling is its ability to handle mixed and unwashed plastics. Post-consumer plastics are often commingled and contaminated with extraneous materials such as soil, dirt, aluminium foils, paper labels and food remnants. While soil, dirt and glue can be removed from post-consumer plastics by washing, this is a fairly expensive operation and it leads to secondary waste streams... 

Additional data on the actinide losses to the various secondary waste streams, on the radiation stability of the chemicals used for stripping operations, as well as on their recycle or removal as wastes still need to be obtained on laboratory scale for fully active HAW. The obtained results will provide the basis for deciding whether to proceed or not to a pilot plant scale experimentation. Until such experiments are performed it will be impossible to demonstrate the overall feasibility of the selected partitioning process with an acceptable degree of reliability. 

A large number of secondary waste streams emanate... 

Finding 4-1. The documentation for secondary waste streams made available to the committee failed to identify reverse osmosis rejectate brine, supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) filtrate solid waste, SCWO titanium tank hners, venturi scrubber particulate filters, or filters from the ener-... 

It is certain that a significant quantity of secondary waste will be generated over the operational and closure lifetime of BGCAPP and PCAPP. The time, effort, and resources needed to deal with the secondary waste will be substantial, and its handling can become a subject of public debate or criticism concerning the operation of the pilot plants. The catchall term secondary waste encompasses many different waste fonns, and opportunities may exist for cost savings or for schedule acceleration if other disposal options become applicable to certain secondary waste streams. 

The overhead gases from the venturi scmbber are then passed tluough an additional particulate filter. The particulate filter medium constitutes a secondary waste stream from the venturi scmbber and is one of the larger secondary waste streams. The filtered venturi offgas is heated to 120°F to lower the relative humidity and then sent to the munitions demilitarization building HVAC, where it flows through activated carbon filters. ... 

The SDU is used to treat secondary wastes from various activities, including general maintenance, equipment maintenance, worker safety measures, and sampling. Typical secondary waste streams treated are DPE suits and other personal protective equipment sampling equipment tools. 

Secondary Waste Streams, Roger Dickerman, Systemization Manager, BGCAPP. 

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