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Chancellor, Christopher John

Publications and source records attributed to Chancellor, Christopher John.

Evaluation of the lgnitability Hazards in Remediated Nitrate Salt Waste

The hazards associated with the characteristic of ignitability in remediated nitrate salt (RNS) waste containing nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and metal nitrate salts, currently stored at the Waste Control Specialists (WCS) facility near Andrews, Texas have been evaluated. For these waste drums there are two ignitability hazards that may apply, each separately distinguished from the other and uniquely correlated to one of two competing reaction mechanisms. One ignitability hazard, designated the autocatalytic thermal runway, is uniquely correlated to an acid/base reaction of hydrolysis of a hydrated metal nitrate salt. The other applicable ignitability hazard, designated the oxidizer property, is uniquely correlated to a redox disproportionation reaction involving an anhydrous metal nitrate salt. Which reaction mechanism pathway is accessible to a given metal nitrate, and therefore which ignitability hazard may apply, depends on the acidity of the metal ion and its corresponding capacity to maintain coordination with water.

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Safety Evaluation of Nitric Acid Reactions with Non-Polysaccharide Organic Materials

The hazards of non-polysaccharide materials in a transuranic (TRU) waste drum exposed to nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and metal nitrate salts have been evaluated, focusing on sorbents and on resins used in ion-exchange chromatography. The range of sorbent materials can be grouped into two general categories: 1) a variety of polyacrylate and polyacrylamide compounds that incorporate polar carbonyl functional groups designed to sorb protic (i.e., acidic) substrates and solutions; 2) hydrocarbon based polymers that include polystyrene, polybutadiene, and polyethylene derivatives, which are designed to sorb non-polar organic substrates and solutions. The ion-exchange resins are constructed of hydrocarbon based polymeric networks equipped with pendant ionizable functional groups designed to reversibly sorb/desorb ionic species that are targeted for separation from a mobile phase.

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Safety Evaluation of Remediated Nitrate Salt Waste

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the basis for the safe emplacement at WIPP of all TRU waste that is presently stored at the WCS facility near Andrews, Texas, a basis provided by a recent report that evaluated the safety hazards associated with nitric acid and/or metal nitrate salts commingled with oxidizable polysaccharide materials. The scope of this document focuses on a narrow subset of those polysaccharides, namely the starch-based kitty litter that was implicated in the radiological release at WIPP and which comprises the main hazard for TRU waste stored at the WCS facility.

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Sorbent Scoping Studies

The Los Alamos National Laboratory–Carlsbad Operations (LANL-CO) office was tasked by the DOE CBFO, Office of the Manager to perform a review of the acceptable knowledge (AK) to identify the oxidizers and sorbents in transuranic (TRU) waste streams, to conduct scoping studies on the oxidizers and sorbents identified in AK review to inform the Quality Level 1 (QL1) testing, and to conduct a series of QL1 tests to provide the scientific data to support a basis of knowledge document for determining the criteria for (1) accepting waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) without treatment, (2) determining waste that will require treatment, and (3) if treatment is required, how the treatment must be performed. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the AK review of sorbents present in active waste streams, provide a technical analysis of the sorbent list, report the results of the scoping studies for the fastest-burning organic sorbent, and provide the list of organic and inorganic sorbents to be used in the development of a Test Plan for Preparation and Testing of Sorbents Mixed with Oxidizer found in Transuranic Waste (DWT-TP-001). The companion report, DWT-RPT-001, Oxidizer Scoping Studies, has similar information for oxidizers identified during the AK review of TRU waste streams. The results of the oxidizer and sorbent scoping studies will be used to inform the QL1 test plan. The QL1 test results will support the development of a basis of knowledge document that will evaluate oxidizing chemicals and sorbents in TRU waste and provide guidance for treatment.

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Oxidizer Scoping Studies

The purpose of this report is to present the results of the acceptable knowledge (AK) review of oxidizers present in active waste streams, provide a technical analysis of the oxidizers, and report the results of the scoping study testing. This report will determine the fastest burning oxidizer to be used in the development of a Test Plan for Preparation and Testing of Sorbents Mixed with Oxidizer found in Transuranic Waste (DWT-TP-001). The companion report, DWT-RPT-002, Sorbent Scoping Studies, contains similar information for sorbents identified during the AK review of TRU waste streams. The results of the oxidizer and sorbent scoping studies will be used to inform the QL1 test plan. The QL1 test results will support the development of a basis of knowledge document that will evaluate oxidizing chemicals and sorbents in TRU waste and provide guidance for treatment.

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