Studies of Transuranic Waste Storage under Conditions Expected in the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP),July 1--September 30, 1978.

摘要

This is the fourth quarterly report describing progress in an experimental program to determine the effects of radiolytic,thermal,and catalyzed pyrolytic degradation of various forms of existing or proposed transuranic (TRU) wastes. Thermal degradation of paper and composite (35% cellulosics, 23% polyethylene, 12% polyvinyl chloride, 15% neoprene,and 15% Hypalon) at 70and 100exp 0 C is occurring. Some radiolytic gas evolution appears to be occurring at a dose of 4 x 10exp 5nCi/g. The rates of sludge dewatering at 25, 40, 70and 100exp 0 C have been determined. Several high-pressure (1.5 x 10exp 4kPa,or 150atm) experiments are in progress. In addition,an assessment of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) retrievably stored TRU waste for the calendar years 1971to 1977is in progress. The total volume of TRU waste stored at LASL during these years is 1589 m exp 3 ,or about 3.5% of the national Department of Energy total. Progress is reported for the first quarter of the project designed to assess potential microbial interaction with plutonium and other transuranics in low-level radioactive waste as it is expected to occur in the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP). In the two months this project has been funded,we have compiled an extensive body of pertinent literature,ordered and received equipment and laboratory expendables,initiated the enumeration,isolation,and identification of bacteria and fungi from soil obtained from a LASL TRU burial site,and successfully performed the abiotic alkylation of a heavy metal (mercury) and identified the methylated product in preparation for subsequent abiotic and biological alkylation reaction of europium and plutonium. (ERA citation 04:029449)