Open AccessEvaluation and ranking of the tank focus area solid liquid separation needs
Author(s) -
Daniel J. McCabe
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/170586
Subject(s) - waste management , filtration (mathematics) , environmental science , ion exchange , radioactive waste , fouling , volume (thermodynamics) , engineering , chemistry , ion , biochemistry , mathematics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , membrane , statistics , physics
The Tank Focus Area (TFA) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (EM) addresses remediation of liquid waste currently stored in underground tanks. Several baseline technologies for treatment of tank waste can be categorized into three types of solid liquid separation: (a) removal of radioactive species that have been absorbed or precipitated, (b) pretreatment for ion exchange, and (c) volume reduction of sludge and wash water. The solids formed from precipitation or absorption of radioactive ions require separation from the liquid phase to permit treatment of the liquid as Low Level Waste. Prior to ion exchange of radioactive ions, removal of insoluble solids is needed to prevent bed fouling and downstream contamination. Volume reduction of washed sludge solids would reduce the tank space required for interim storage. The scope of this document is to evaluate the solid/liquid separations needed to permit treatment of tank wastes to accomplish these goals. The document summarizes previous alkaline waste testing, with an emphasis on crossflow filtration, to-obtain a general understanding of the behavior of radioactive wastes on available equipment. The document also provides general information about filtration and a path forward for testing