Sedimentation models

The nuclear wastes currently stored in tanks at the Hanford site contain complex mixtures of insoluble sludge particles, salts, and supernatant liquids. Treatment and ultimate disposal of these tank wastes will require that the complex solid-liquid mixtures be dispersed in aqueous solutions for retrieval and transport. The mixtures will then require pretreatment steps that will ultimately require the isolation of insoluble particles from supernatant liquids via solid-liquid separation steps such as settle-decant operations, centrifugation, or filtration. There is a perception that sludge treatment in general, and solid-liquid separations in particular, are relatively trivial operations that can easily be transferred to private industry to initiate tank cleanup. Experiences gained over the past few years at Hanford suggest that waste processing is not as trivial as it seems