Session: 05-05: Vitrification Process Developments

Paper Number: 109806

109806 - Treatment of Problematic Reactive Metal Wastes Using the Geomelt® In-Container Vitrification (Icv™) Process 

Treatment of Problematic Reactive Metal Wastes Using the GeoMelt^® In-Container Vitrification (ICV™) Process

Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Robert Miklos**, Sadie Butler**, Battelle Energy Alliance

*Veolia Nuclear Solutions

Ron Mitchell*, Brett Campbell*

ABSTRACT

Decommissioning of reactor technologies which utilized alkali (reactive) metals has generated a number of reactive metal waste configurations that are problematic to manage, and typically lack cost effective treatment methods and disposition options. Most technologies used for reactive metal deactivation utilize water (which generates flammable hydrogen gas and caustic radioactive liquids), and/or cannot effectively access reactive metal which is contained within complex geometries without extensive pretreatment. Advanced reactors are also anticipated to generate similar waste types and will be dependent on a capability to efficiently disposition.

At the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), there are many reactive metal containing waste streams that require treatment to remove the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) reactivity and ignitability characteristics in order to comply with land disposal restrictions that can be utilized to demonstrate an efficient technology.

Veolia Nuclear Solutions GeoMelt^®[1] technology provides a proven, robust approach that chemically converts the reactive metals to inert oxides without generating hydrogen or caustic liquids. The result is a durable vitrified waste form that is considered the ideal choice for high-level nuclear waste by regulator around the world. Additionally, the GeoMelt^® technology can operate at temperatures sufficient to melt steel and access reactive metal for treatment, eliminating the need to perform complicated pretreatment operations with pyrophoric materials.

In 2016, Veolia Nuclear Solutions, under contract with Idaho National Laboratory (owned by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC), began demonstrating the effectiveness of the GeoMelt^® ICV™[2] process in deactivating reactive sodium metal. The GeoMelt^® technology passively converts the sodium metal to a non-reactive vitrified oxide form. Crucible, bench-scale, and engineering-scale demonstrations were conducted on several surrogate waste configurations with various ratios of sodium metal and glass-formers. Each ratio and configuration demonstrated complete deactivation of the surrogate sodium metal. Follow-on work in 2017 continued to demonstrate the deactivation of reactive sodium by GeoMelt^® ICV™ at a higher waste loading relative to previously demonstrated work performed in 2016; the higher waste loading optimized glass chemistry while enhancing the economical full-scale treatment of reactive metals.

Since 2018, two 10-metric ton full-scale GeoMelt^® ICV™ systems have been designed, installed, and commissioned in the United States; the systems are located at Perma-Fix Northwest in Richland, Washington and the Waste Control Specialists site in Andrews, Texas. Both systems were commissioned for the treatment of low-level radioactive and reactive metal containing wastes. Combined, these systems have treated over 28,000 legacy reactive metal containing waste items.  

INL is currently implementing GeoMelt^® technology as a means to safely and reliably convert radioactive reactive metal- contaminated components from sodium cooled reactors into waste forms that comply with existing disposition pathways. 

The results generated as a part of the demonstration program from 2019 to 2022 will be presented .

[1] GeoMelt is a registered trademark of Geosafe Corporation.

[2] In-Container Vitrification (ICV)™ is a trademark of Veolia Nuclear Solutions, Inc.

Presenting Author: Robert Miklos Idaho National Laboratory

Presenting Author Biography: Robert Miklos
Director of Production Facilities: Fuel Recycling, Nuclear Fuels Management, Waste Management
Robert Miklos is the director of Production Facilities and TSDF’s at Idaho National
Laboratory’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC). He has more than 30 years of experience in disciplined operations of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities, start-up and testing, integrated safety management and project management of large-scale and complex projects. He is responsible for safe and efficient operations, maintenance and project activities within the Fuel Conditioning Facility (FCF) nuclear facility, Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF’s), BEA Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC)facilities, and Remote Handled Low Level Waste Disposal Facility (RHLLW) . Prior to joining the INL community, he spent 18 years in large-scale commercial construction, capital asset projects and DOD construction, overhaul and refueling, defueling, and decommissioning experience when employed by Newport News Shipbuilding and its subsidiary company, Newport News Reactor Services. He is a Director on the Energy Facilities Contractors Group (EFCOG) Board of Directors and previous chair of the (EFCOG) Project Delivery Working Group (PDWG) and holds undergraduate degrees in engineering from Pennsylvania State University and Old Dominion University. He is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Stanford University Certified Project Manager (SCPM).