Antifoam Development for Eliminating Flammability Hazards and Decreasing Cycle Time in the Defense Waste Processing Facility

Abstract

A special thanks to Alex Nikolov and Darsh Wasan of the Illinois Institute of Technology for their expertise in foam and antifoamers, in helping us to develop the research program, to evaluate the results and to identify candidates for testing, and especially for introducing us to Kalman Koczo of Momentive Performance Materials who supplied us with the Momentive™ Y-17112. A special thanks to Gita Golcar for her identification of most of the antifoam candidates that we tested, including Evonik Surfynol ® MD20. We had great support from Meagan Kinard, Katherine Miles, Austin Coleman, and Daniel Jones in helping us to set up, develop R&D directions, perform the experiments, and so much more in finishing these tasks. Thanks to Mark Fowley and Andy Foreman for designing and installing the portable table that the RC1 equipment is assembled onto. Thanks to Christopher Verst for calculating radiation dose approximations and operating the J.L Shepherd Model 484 Co-60 gamma irradiator. Thanks to Mason Clark of DWPF Engineering for his support in the planning and execution of this testing. We had great support from our interns, Jackie Do from the University of Georgia and Maggie Hansen from Clemson University. Jackie and Maggie did a great job in helping prepare the equipment, procedures, R&D directions, and iControl software for the antifoam experiments.

Evaluations of the Fates of Alkali Metals, Actinides, Mercury, and Iodine During DWPF Recycle Diversion

“…There is currently no indication that DMHg is formed under these flowsheet conditions. 25 As data in previous reports show, 37 evaporation of the Tank 22H waste will cause varying amounts of elemental mercury to partition to the condensate. The elemental mercury content in the Tank 22H waste, and Tank 43H waste (which contained material from Tank 22H) was ~1-3 mg/L.…”

“…A new antifoam, Momentive Y-17112, is planned for implementation in DWPF in the near future which does not degrade significantly under the processing conditions upstream of the melter. 25 In the melter, the new antifoam is expected to decompose completely, but some entrainment of antifoam at low levels into the RCT is expected. Momentive Y-17112 has similar structure and functional groups to Antifoam 747.…”

A novel defoamer for processing nuclear waste: Testing and performance

“…Testing was completed to identify the best defoamer for controlling foam during high-level radioactive waste processing. 26 The screening experiments included spreading of the superwetters, Teclis Mettler Toledo RC1mx reaction calorimeter along with two other simulants, a slurry containing monosodium titanate (MST, used for actinide removal) and a nitric acid waste stream for delivering radioactive cesium to DWPF. The testing included simulating both chemical processing cycles in DWPF to be as prototypic of planned processing as practical (Table 5).…”

White Paper to Justify the Use of Strip Effluent in the Defense Waste Processing Facility During Slurry Mix Evaporator Processing

“…To decrease the processing time in the SRAT and SME, it is desirable to increase the steam flowrate to design basis or 5,000 lb/hr. An improved antifoam 6 or less foaming due to the nitric-glycolic acid flowsheet may allow the facility to increase the SRAT and SME steam flowrate and decrease processing time.…”