Volume reduction system for solid and liquid TRU waste from the nuclear fuel cycle: October--December 1977

A bench-scale incinerator for the investigation of unusual particulate and gaseous radioactive material in the incinerator off-gas was assembled and equipment checkout was begun. Modifications to a glovebox to be used for the demonstration phase of incinerator-ash immobilization are approximately 80% completed with demonstration to begin next quarter. The curing time for ash-cement pressed pellets was optimized by periodic crush-strength testing of open-air and underwater cured samples. Leach tests were performed at 70 and 100/sup 0/C to simulate normal and extreme storage conditions. Long-term leach tests were initiated on plutonium-238 doped ash-cement pressed pellets in distilled water at ambient temperature. Pressed pellets of bone char, ash, and sludge-ash in several mixtures were fabricated and tested to establish pressing and curing parameters. Leach tests were also performed on bone char-cement pressed pellets. Curing studies have been conducted on the pressed pellet matrix to define differences between curing in the open atmosphere and under water. Leachability studies have been initiated on the pressed pellet ash/cement matrix in distilled water at ambient, 70 and 100/sup 0/C. Also, leachability studies on doped plutonium-238 pressed ash/cement pellets and pressed bone char/cement pellets in distilled water at ambient temperature have been conducted. Compressive strengths of bone char/cement and sludge/cement pressed matrix have been investigated