PHOSPHATE CERAMIC PROCESS FOR MACROENCAPSULATION AND STABILIZATION OFLOW-LEVEL DEBRIS WASTES

Across the DOE complex, large quantities of contaminated debris and ir radiated lead bricks have been accumulated for disposal. Under the US Environmental Protection Agency's Alternative Treatment Standards, the preferred method of disposal of these wastes is macroencapsulation. C hemically bonded phosphate ceramic (CBPC) is a novel binder that was d eveloped at Argonne National Laboratory to stabilize and solidify vari ous low-level mixed wastes. This binder is extremely strong, dense, an d impervious to water. In this investigation, CBPC has been used to de monstrate macroencapsulation of various contaminated debris wastes, in cluding cryofractured debris, lead bricks, lead-lined plastic gloves, and mercury-contaminated crushed glass. This paper describes the fabri cation of the waste forms, as well as the results of various character izations performed on the waste forms. The results show that the simpl e and low-cost CBPC is an excellent material system for the macroencap sulation of debris wastes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.