Respirable Fines Produced by Impacts of Simulated Alternative High-Level Waste Materials

Abstract

Standardized comparative drop weight impact tests were conducted on solid alternative waste forms under consideration for immobilizing Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) defense wastes. The fragment size distributions were measured in the size ranges of ֮5 to 8000 μm. All waste form fragment size distributions could be described accurately by lognormal plots. Respirable sizes (≤10 μm) were measured. Borosilicate glass and SYNROC specimens yielded the same mass fractions of respirable sizes; FUETAP concrete, high silica and alkoxide glass specimens yielded ֮2–3 times more mass fractions of particles of respirable sizes, whereas tailored (Spinel) ceramic specimens yielded the smallest mass fractions of respirable sizes, ֮2–1/2 times less.

Preliminary parametric performance assessment of potential final waste forms for alpha low-level waste at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Revision 1

“…The energy density at the highest speed was 1.4 J/cm3. Jardine et al (1982) subjected small (approximately 40-g) specimens of several FWFs to impact from a large falling weight. The energy density for most of the tests was 10 J/cm3.…”

“…Allowing for the uncertainties of about a factor of 2 upward or downward in the comparison, this value of 0.016% is close to the slightly higher value of 0.02% obtained by Smith and Ross (1975) at a slightly higher energy density. Farnsworth et al (1994) reported respirable fractions of 0.32% for PCC and 0 for IEB and IEW, using the method of Jardine et al (1982) with 40-g specimens. The energy density was the same 10 J/cm3.…”

High level waste immobilization forms

“…Constant energy density ( 10/cm3) impact friability tests carried out by Jardine (93) showed that Synroc-D produced less than 0.16 wt% "respirable fines" (i.e., particles less than 10 Frn in diameter).…”

A Methodology for Characterizing Brittle Fracture of Solid Waste Forms in Accidental Impacts

“…A series of drop-weight impact tests were made on small cylindrical specimens of Pyrex and SRL 131 waste glass [11,12].…”

“…[11] These results are summarized by statistical parameters which have been correlated with the impact energy. [11] These results are summarized by statistical parameters which have been correlated with the impact energy.…”