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Characterization
| Closure |
Immobilization
| Other
| Pretreatment | Retrieval | Safety
Tank waste must be converted into a durable solid form before it is disposed so that radioactive and chemical materials remaining in the waste can't easily escape. The low-level portions of the tank waste can be turned into a waste form and stored to allow retrieval if needed. The high-level radioactive waste must be turned into a form that is safe for interim storage until a permanent waste repository is opened. Grouting (cement) and vitrification (glass) processes are the two main forms of achieving waste immobilization in the DOE complex.
In the vitrification process, waste is combined with glass forming materials, called frit, and melted. In the melter, the tank waste and frit are mixed at high temperatures, ranging form 1400° F to 2700° F. This molten mixture is poured into log-shaped, steel containers, where it cools and hardens. Once the materials solidify, the waste is trapped inside and can't easily be released.
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