Transcript Diapositive 1

NOCHAR polymers:
an aqueous and organic liquid
solidification process for Cadarache LOR
(Liquides Organiques Radioactifs)
CE.VAUDEY
AREVA BUA
Technical Direction
25/02/2013
NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
Summary
 Introduction
 Waste handling
 Cadarache LOR waste streams characteristics
 Method and experimental device
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion and outlook
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
Introduction
 Waste handling
 For VLLW and LLW handling in France : 2 options
- Incineration at CENTRACO facility
- Disposal facility on ANDRA sites
 Waste acceptance in a radwaste route
- Adequacy Waste characteristics/Radwaste route specifications
- In case of incompatible : necessary to find an alternative solution
A waste pre-treatment process
 Cadarache LOR waste streams characteristics
 2 radioactive scintillation cocktails
LOR 75
LOR 20
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
LOR 20
208L and 206kg
11% Xylene
1.6% Mesitylene
0.4% Diphenyloxazole
0.1% TBP
91.4% Water
LOR 75
137L and 137kg
8.6% TBP
91.4% Water
1.7 mg.g-1 Chloride
0.61 mg.g-1 Fluoride
0.9 mg.g-1 Sulfate
1.3 mg.g-1 Chloride
0.23 mg.g-1 Fluoride
2.1 mg.g-1 Sulfate
Spectra
Am-241
Co-60
Cs-137
H-3
Am-241
Pu-241
Cs-137
Mass activity
AAlpha = 3.78x108 Bq.g-1
ABeta/Gamma = 5.55x105 Bq.g-1
ATritium = 3.47x106 Bq.g-1
AAlpha = 8.67x108 Bq.g-1
ABeta/Gamma = 8.62x103 Bq.g-1
Volume (L) and Mass (kg)
Composition
Physical chemistry
characteristics
Radiological
characterisctics
 LLW (mass activity equal to some kBq.g-1) + Organic and aqueous components + Presence of
significant quantities of tritium, chlorine and fluorine
Needs of a pre-treatment : NOCHAR polymers as solidification process
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
Method and experimental device
 NOCHAR polymers
 N910 for organic liquids solidification
 N960 for aqueous liquids solidification
 Implementing of polymers technology = 2 main steps
 mixing waste/polymer
 curing during 24h to 48h
 Process specificities
 For N910 : Creation of permanent chemical bonds between organic liquids and
polymer
 For N960 : Creation of strong mechanical bonds between aqueous liquids and
polymer
 Final product = immobilised solid stable under radiation, non-toxic, not
dangerous, non-corrosive and non-biodegradable
 Evaluation of formulation validity : approach in 3 steps
 Identification of the ideal polymer formulation with a Waste/Polymer mass ratio 1:1
 Increase of Waste/Polymer mass ratio
 Observations, evaluations of residual liquid presence/absence and manual exudation
tests
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
LOR 20
Results and
discussion
Mass ratio
N960 : N910
Mass ratio
N960 : N910
1:0
1:0
 Ideal polymer
formulation?
 3 types of results
- Sticky, doughy,
glistening with
presence of
residual moisture
or waste
- Dry sample
- Dry sample with
presence of
polymer N910
excess
0.85 : 0.15
0.75 : 0.25
0.70 : 0.30
0.50 : 0.50
0.50 : 0.50
 Ideal polymer
formulation = Dry
sample
0.25 : 0.75
0.25 : 0.75
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LOR 75
NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
 Ideal Waste/Polymer mass ratio?
 For ideal polymer formulation, 3 ratios
- 1 : 1 -> Dry sample LOR 20
LOR 75
Mass ratio
N960 : N910
0.50 : 0.50
0.25 : 0.75
- 2 : 1 -> Sticky, doughy, glistening with presence of residual moisture
LOR 20
LOR 20
Mass ratio
N960 : N910
0.50 : 0.50
0.25 : 0.75
- 4 : 1 -> Sticky, doughy, glistening with presence of residual waste
 Ideal Waste/Polymer mass ratio = 1 : 1
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LOR 75
NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
 Observations, evaluations of residual liquid presence/absence and
manual exudation tests ?
 For ideal polymer formulation and Waste/Polymer mass ratio 1 :1
Mass ratio
N960 : N910
LOR 20
0.50 : 0.50
0.25 : 0.75
LOR 75
 After a curing of 1 and 20h, no moisture and no waste desorption under exudation test
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
Discussion
 For LOR 20
 Ideal formulation : N910/N960 mass ratio equal to 0.50 : 0.50
N910 absorption power higher than the N960 one
 Ideal Waste/Polymer mass ratio equal to 1 : 1
Xylene and mesitylene composed of a benzenic ring and methyl groups
-> Limited number of free carbon atoms
-> Negative effects on the reactive mechanism which occurs during the
Waste/Polymer mixing to form covalent bonds between the two products
 For LOR 75
 Ideal formulation : N910/N960 mass ratio equal to 0.25 : 0.75
N910 absorption power higher than the N960 one
 Ideal Waste/Polymer mass ratio equal to 1:1
Nature of the organic product (TBP)
-> Negative effects on the reactive mechanism which occurs during the
Waste/Polymer mixing to form covalent bonds between the two products
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NOCHAR polymers:
a solidification process for Cadarache LOR
Conclusion and Outlook
 For Cadarache LOR waste, pre-treatment by polymer adapted
Polymers = suitable solidification matrix for a final acceptance in
storage on ANDRA sites
 To consolidate this conclusion, 3 future steps
 Optimisation of the adapted formulations by tests
 Realisation of a waste field study based on
- the experimental data collected during this study,
- the potential adequate between pre-treated Cadarache LOR waste streams characteristics
and ANDRA specifications,
- the ANDRA agreement principle on VLLW, LLW and ILW immobilised by polymers
- Final product conditioned in homogenous waste package (waste immobilised by
polymers placed in cement matrix)
- Final product conditioned in heterogeneous waste at 10% for the waste immobilised
by polymers and at 20% for the waste immobilised by polymers placed in cement
matrix
 Preparation of an ANDRA agreement file for Cadarache LOR waste streams pretreated by NOCHAR polymers
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