Nuclear Waste
GeoMelt process
could burn up nuclear waste
A new process to treat and dispose of nuclear waste has been
successfully tested at the US Department of Energy's former
plutonium-production site in Hanford, Washington.
Artist impression of the GeoMelt process. Picture courtesy of
Amec
The process, called GeoMelt, uses electrodes to melt waste and
contaminated soil at temperatures of more than 2,000° Celsius. It is
claimed this destroys organic contaminants through pyrolysis and
catalytic reactions, while immobilizing hazardous inorganic and
radioactive contaminants in a glassy, rock-like mass 10 times stronger
than concrete.
The first test of the new process was carried out by AMEC, the
construction and engineering firm, as part of a US$7.6 million
contract to see whether its existing bulk-vitrification technology can
be adapted for radioactive waste.
It involves excavating a pit, filling it with waste and
inserting high temperature electrodes and has already been used for
other forms of toxic waste including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
dioxins, pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals.
All classes of contaminants can be treated and virtually all
types of debris can be accommodated, including drums, scrap metal,
concrete, wood, tyres and plastic.
One major advantage of this form of processing is that it
prevents the leaching of toxins into the surrounding soil and ground
water - the main hazard of burying such materials.
If the process works on radioactive waste it could be used to
clean up the 42 million gallons of low-activity waste in Hanford, as
well as the estimated four million cubic metres of contaminated
material in the UK.
AMEC is to carry out two further trials in July, and has said
that if successful, the process has enormous, global commercial
potential, says the company. Links
Source:
edie newsroom