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Hot demonstrations of nuclear-waste processing technologies

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Abstract

Several types of nuclear-waste-treatment technologies are currently being demonstrated at Argonne National Laboratory-West, ranging from complex, high-level waste-form production to a relatively simple encapsulation technique for the immobilization of mixed hazardous/radioactive waste. Typically, the demonstrations involve a cooperative arrangement among the organizations responsible for developing the processes, operating the facilities, and conducting the test programs. By summarizing the common approach taken for demonstrations of three very different waste-treatment processes, this article illustrates the necessity of process demonstrations using typical radioactive waste streams in the development of industrially viable waste-treatment technologies.

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Authors
  1. H. F. McFarlane
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  2. K. M. Goff
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  3. F. S. Felicione
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  4. C. C. Dwight
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  5. D. B. Barber
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Additional information

Editor's Note: A hypertext-enhanced version of this article can be found at http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9707/McFarlane-9707.html.

H.F. McFarlane earned his Ph.D. in engineering science at California Institute of Technology in 1971. He is currently associate director of the Technology Development Division at Argonne National Laboratory.

K.M. Goff earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991. He is currently group leader of waste process technology at Argonne National Laboratory.

F.S. Felicione earned his Ph.D. in thermal sciences at the University of California at Berkeley in 1970. He is currently project manager of the Plasma Hearth Process Project at Argonne National Laboratory.

C.C. Dwight earned her B.S. in nuclear engineering at Idaho State University in 1985. She is currently group leader of waste programs in the Technology Development Division at Argonne National Laboratory.

D.B. Barber earned his M.S. in health physics at Colorado Stat University in 1993. He is currently a staff engineer at Argonne National Laboratory.

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McFarlane, H.F., Goff, K.M., Felicione, F.S. et al. Hot demonstrations of nuclear-waste processing technologies. JOM 49, 14–21 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02914760

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