DEVELOPMENT AND SELECTION OF TECHNOLOGIES FORMERCURY MANAGEMENT ON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SITES:THE MER01–MER04 AND MERCURY SPECIATION DEMONSTRATIONS

摘要

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Transuranic and Mixed Waste Focus Area (TMFA),funded from fiscal year (FY) 1996 though FY 2002, was tasked with finding solutions for themixed waste treatment problems of the DOE complex. During TMFA's initial technical baselinedevelopment process, three of the top four technology deficiencies identified were the need foramalgamation, stabilization, and separation/removal technologies for the treatment of mercurycontaminatedmixed waste. The Mercury Working Group (HgWG), a selected group ofrepresentatives from DOE sites with significant mercury waste inventories, assisted TMFA insoliciting, identifying, initiating, and managing efforts to address these areas. Solicitations andcontract awards were made to the private sector to demonstrate both the amalgamation andstabilization processes using both actual mixed wastes and surrogate samples. The goal was todevelop separation and removal processes that will meet DOE’s needs. This paper discusses thetechnology selection process, development activities, and the accomplishments of TMFAthrough these various activities.