Laboratory Studies of Gas Generation for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant *
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LABORATORY STUDIES OF GAS GENERATION FOR THE WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT* 3
2
FRANCIS, A. J. E. WESTERMAN R. L. H. BRUSHI M. A. MOLECKE,I 5 4 3 AND D. T. REED R. H. VREELAND, J. B. GILLOW, 1. Sandia National Laboratories, Disposal Room Systems Department 6345, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185 2. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Materials Sciences Department, PO Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 3. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Department of Applied Science, Upton, NY 11973 4. West Chester University, Department of Biology, West Chester, PA 19383 5. Argonne National Laboratory, Chemical Technology Division, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439
ABSTRACT
The design-basis,
the Waste
defense-related,
Isolation Pilot Plant may,
viable microorganisms are present,
transuranic waste to be emplaced in
if
sufficient H2 0,
nutrients,
and
generate significant quantities of gas in
the repository after filling and sealing.
We summarize recent results of
laboratory studies of anoxic corrosion and microbial activity, the most potentially significant processes. We also discuss possible implications for the repository gas budget.
INTRODUCTION Design-basis, defense-related, transuranic (TRU) waste to be emplaced in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico may generate significant quantities of gas. Anoxic corrosion of steel waste containers (drums and boxes) and Fe-base alloys in the waste may, if brine is present, produce about 2 moles of H2 per drum of waste per year for 400 to 500 years. This amounts to a total of 900 moles per drum, 600 moles from the containers and 300 moles from Fe-base alloys in the waste. Microbial degradation of cellulosics in the waste may, if sufficient brine or H20 vapor, nutrients, and viable microorganisms are present, produce a total of about 1 mole of gas per drum per year for 600 years, or 600 moles per drum [1]. These gases may include C0 2 , CH4 , H2 S, N2 , and NH3 . According to the current design, there will be the equivalent of about 6,800 208-L drums 3 of waste per 3,640-m disposal room. Each of the 56 rooms will contain 3 2,300 m of void volume (mine air) immediately after emplacement of the drums and crushed-salt or crushed-salt-and-bentonite backfill. The current design also specifies waste emplacement in some of the access drifts. Radiolysis of brine and waste materials would produce gas at significantly lower rates than anoxic corrosion or microbial activity. Ca(OH) 2 in cementitious materials in the waste and proposed backfill additives such as CaO may remove C02. The WIPP Project is carrying out laboratory and modeling studies of gas generation with simulated TRU waste [2] and is planning gas-generation tests with actual contact-handled TRU waste.
*This work was supported by Contract DE-AC04-76DP00789.
the United States
Department of Energy
Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 294. ©1993 Materials Research Society
under
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ANOXIC CORROSION Experiments at Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) with two heats each of ASTM A 366 and ASTM A 570 steels su
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