A Low Cost Process for the Concentration and Stabilization of Mixed Low Level Waste

41092 November 20, 1996 TDA Research, Inc. One of the largest problems currently facing the Department of Energy (DOE) is how to safely dispose of the large volumes of radioactive and mixed waste generated from the production of nuclear materials for national defense. Stabilization of such wastes requires that contaminants of both kinds be immobilized effectively. This project will develop a low-cost, low-temperature process for the concentration and stabilization of low level mixed aqueous wastes combining metals and radionuclides. The process is based on a low cost material that will be added to the aqueous waste stream. It can chemically bond with the metals and radionuclides, incorporating the contaminants within its chemical lattice structure. The contaminant doped material can be filtered out of solution, and can be thermally converted (at low temperatures) into a stable ceramic waste form. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The result should be a low cost process for the concentration and stabilizaltion of low-level mixed wastes containing metals and radionuclides. The system could find use in the treatment of low level mixed wastes at sites within the DOE Complex.