Metal alloy treatment process for radioactive waste
First Claim
1. A method for treating a waste material which includes at least one type of radioactive isotope to be alloyed with a reactant metal alloy, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) identifying each radioactive isotope which is present in the waste material at a detectable level and determining the concentration of each said radioactive isotope in the waste material;
(b) producing the reactant metal alloy for a selected volume of the waste material, the reactant metal alloy being held in a molten state and including at least one chemically active metal and, for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the selected volume of the waste material, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission; and
(c) adding the selected volume of the waste material to the molten reactant metal alloy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A waste treatment process includes containing a reactant metal alloy (210) in a reactant alloy container (202) substantially isolated from oxygen gas. The reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active alkaline metal and at least one radiation absorbing metal. After heating the reactant alloy (210) in the reactant alloy container (202) to a desired operating temperature, a waste material including radioactive isotopes to be alloyed is introduced into the molten alloy, preferably below the surface of the alloy. Non-radioactive compounds in the waste material react with metals in the reactant alloy (210) to produce useful halogen salts and other materials. The metal radioactive isotopes in the waste material are alloyed with the alkaline metal and radiation absorbing metals to create a storage product for long term storage.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for treating a waste material which includes at least one type of radioactive isotope to be alloyed with a reactant metal alloy, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying each radioactive isotope which is present in the waste material at a detectable level and determining the concentration of each said radioactive isotope in the waste material;
(b) producing the reactant metal alloy for a selected volume of the waste material, the reactant metal alloy being held in a molten state and including at least one chemically active metal and, for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the selected volume of the waste material, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission; and
(c) adding the selected volume of the waste material to the molten reactant metal alloy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
(a) maintaining the amount of the chemically active metal in the molten reactant metal alloy at no less than forty percent of the total molten reactant metal alloy by weight.
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4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
(a) maintaining the molten reactant metal alloy at an operating temperature of no less than 770 degrees Celsius as the waste material is added to the molten reactant metal alloy.
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5. The method of claim 1 wherein each chemically active metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, lithium, zinc, calcium, and copper.
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6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
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(a) monitoring radioactive emissions from a stream of the selected volume of waste material being directed to the molten reactant metal alloy to be added thereto, the monitoring providing an indication of the level of radioactive emissions from the stream of waste material; and
(b) halting the stream of waste material in response to an anomalous radioactive emission level detected from the stream of waste material.
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7. A method for treating a waste material which includes at least one type of radioactive isotope to be alloyed with a reactant metal alloy, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying each radioactive isotope which is present in the waste material at a detectable level and determining the amount of each said radioactive isotope in the waste material;
(b) producing the reactant metal alloy for a selected volume of the waste material, the reactant metal alloy being held in a molten state and including at least one chemically active metal and, for each type of expected radioactive emission associated with the selected volume of the waste material, at least one corresponding radiation absorbing metal, each corresponding radiation absorbing metal being capable of absorbing the respective type of expected radioactive emission; and
(c) adding the selected volume of the waste material to the molten reactant metal alloy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
(a) maintaining the amount of the chemically active metal in the molten reactant metal alloy at no less than forty percent of the total molten reactant metal alloy by weight.
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10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:
(a) maintaining the molten reactant metal alloy at an operating temperature of no less than 770 degrees Celsius as the waste material is added to the molten reactant metal alloy.
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11. The method of claim 7 wherein each chemically active metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, lithium, zinc, calcium, and copper.
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12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:
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(a) monitoring radioactive emissions from a stream of the selected volume of waste material being directed to the molten reactant metal alloy to be added thereto, the monitoring providing an indication of the level of radioactive emissions from the stream of waste material; and
(b) halting the stream of waste material in response to an anomalous radioactive emission level detected from the stream of waste material.
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Specification