Testing at WTP has shown it is beneficial for removal of aluminum from waste slurry to leach at the highest temperature possible while still remaining under the material compatibility limit (85 °C). Through theoretical and actual waste analysis, the addition of sodium hydroxide appears to have diminishing returns beyond a point. Digestion duration also appears to have diminishing returns; however, it is also limited due to time constraints. Due to waste form variability, these two constraints must be established based on testing prior to pretreatment (pre-qualification analysis) for optimal dissolution of aluminum. From these three parameters, the WTP leaching process steps have been proposed.
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