Use of recycled polymers for encapsulation of radioactive, hazardous and mixed211 wastes

摘要

Polyethylene encapsulation is a waste treatment technology developed at211u001eBrookhaven National Laboratory using thermoplastic polymers to safely and 211u001eeffectively solidify hazardous, radioactive and mixed wastes for disposal. Over 211u001e13 years of development and demonstration with surrogate wastes as well as actual 211u001ewaste streams on both bench and full scale have shown this to be a viable and 211u001erobust technology with wide application. Process development efforts have 211u001epreviously focused on the use of virgin polymer feedstocks. In order to 211u001epotentially improve process economics and serve to lessen the municipal waste 211u001eburden, recycled polymers were investigated for use as encapsulating agents. 211u001eRecycled plastics included low-density polyethylene, linear low-density 211u001epolyethylene, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, and were used as a 211u001edirect substitute for or blended together with virgin resin. Impacts on 211u001eprocessing and final waste form performance were examined.