J. Dziewinski et al., Developing and testing electrochemical methods for treating metal salts, cyanides and organic compounds in waste streams, WASTE MAN, 18(4), 1998, pp. 257-263
Electrochemical methods to process radioactive and hazardous (mixed) wastes
were studied at a bench scale. Cadmium, copper, mercury, and chromium salt
s, cyanides, and simple organic compounds were used in the tests. Effective
conditions were found to process these waste components by electrolysis. T
he equipment used in the tests included flow-through cells, a membrane cell
, and a graphite packed bed cell. The tested methods included an open cell
electrolysis, use of pulsating current, and mediated electrooxidation. The
experiments demonstrated the feasibility of applying electrochemical system
s to treat the studied waste components. The great advantage of electrochem
ical systems is that the treatment of various wastes, or streams containing
selected waste components, can be accomplished in a single treatment unit.
Additional advantages of electrochemical systems are their safety, ability
to recycle, and the fact that they are inclined to receive a positive publ
ic perception. The tested systems are presently used at Los Alamos National
Laboratory to process mixed wastes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig
hts reserved.