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Characterization | Closure
| Immobilization
| Other | Pretreatment | Retrieval | Safety
Effective treatment, separations, and disposal of tank waste depends on the types, concentrations, and forms of chemicals in the waste. To understand these factors in relation to how the waste will behave as it is retrieved and processed, data are needed on the physical and chemical properties of the waste. This is the characaterization process, and includes such items as temperature, moisture content, solid particle density, and fluid dynamics (stickiness). Knowing the type and distribution of chemicals in the waste is also critical because these factors influence how tightly radionuclides and other metals are chemically bound and how waste will flow through pipes when it is retrieved. Under varying temperatures and pH conditions, waste can either flow like water or congeal into a solid to clog pipes. The type and distribution of chemicals also greatly affect what treatment and separation technologies will be effective. Also, the presence of some metals, such as chromium and aluminum, in the waste stream can interfere with the formation and durability of glass produced in the vitfication process. For more information on vitrification, see
Immobilization.
Both documents and photos related to
Characterization are available from TTG database.
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