Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
March 14, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-08: CHEMICAL REACTIONS WITH RADIOACTIVE
WASTE SOLIDIFICATION AGENTS
Addressees:
All NRC licensees generating or processing low level radioactive waste.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to potential
problems resulting from unexpected adverse chemical reaction between con-
taminants in radioactive wastes and certain solidification agents. It is
expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to
their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar
problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice do not
constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response
is required.
Discussion:
On May 13 and 20, 1987, radioactive waste personnel at Tennessee Valley
Authority's (TVA's or licensee's) Sequoyah Nuclear Plant began processing
their laundry waste water and hot shower drain tank waste water through the
condensate demineralizer waste evaporator before sampling for discharge. This
procedure was new and being performed to reduce the radioactivity in the
liquid waste effluents and to meet the criterion of "as low as is reasonably
achievable" outlined in 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix I, which addresses the control
of radioactive materials in gaseous and liquid effluents. Previously, only
batches found to be in excess of discharge limits were processed before being
released.
The condensate demineralizer evaporator bottoms were placed in a radioactive
waste liner and were then solidified on site by Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc.
(CNSI) following a process control program (PCP) formulated by CNSI. As the
waste was being mixed with CNSI's proprietary defoaming agent (N-24) and so-
lidification agent (P-20), the mixture experienced an exothermic reaction in
which the temperature of the waste exceeded 240øF. This temperature was above
the boiling point of the mixture and it began to expand, overflowing the liner
through the fill head and inspection plate and over the side of the container.
This overflow then hardened and had to be chipped away. The maximum dose rate
of the overflow was 3 rem per hour.
The licensee and Chem-Nuclear conducted studies to determine the cause of the
problem. Through followup testing, CNSI identified that a detergent in the
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March 14, 1988
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waste reacted violently with the CNSI solidification agent, undergoing a
reaction as the temperature of the mixture reached 218øF. No other material
within the waste stream, including other detergents, was found to have any
reaction with the solidification agent. The specific detergent, an industrial
liquid laundry detergent sold as DECON 4324-NP under the brand name Turco, had
been used in laundering the licensee's protective clothing. The change in the
method of handling the liquid waste from the laundry increased the volume and
concentration of the detergent in the evaporator bottoms. The licensee has
stopped using the detergent and has experienced no similar problems. TVA
plans additional studies to identify which chemicals in the detergent cause
this reaction.
Licensees are reminded of the importance that waste be processed strictly in
accordance with the approved PCP developed for the specific waste stream
substances to be solidified. Some mixtures of waste contaminants and
solidification agents may react adversely with one another. These reactions
may not be noticeable during the specimen tests performed before the actual
solidification occurs; therefore, it is important to be alert to variances in
solidification parameters specified by PCPs, such as increasing temperature of
the mixture and reduced amount of solidification agent required to fill the
liner or other container.
Additional considerations appropriate for solidifying evaporator bottoms and
ion-exchange resins are discussed in NUREG/CR-4601, "Technical Considerations
Affecting Preparation of Ion-Exchange Resins for Disposal," issued in May 1986
by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical
contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional
office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: Roy Weddington, RII
(404) 331-2604
Jaime Guillen, NRR
(301) 492-1153
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 88-08
March 14, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
88-07 Inadvertent Transfer of 3/7/88 All NRC broad
Licensed Material to licensees and
Uncontrolled Locations licensees
authorized to
possess byproduct
material as sealed
sources in
teletherapy units
or "self-
contained"
irradiators.
88-06 Foreign Objects in Steam 2/29/88 All holders of OLs
Generators or CPs for PWRs.
88-05 Fire in Annunciator Control 2/11/88 All holders of OLs
Cabinets or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-04 Inadequate Qualification 2/5/88 All holders of OLs
and Documentation of Fire or CPs for nuclear
Barrier Penetration Seals power reactors.
88-03 Cracks in Shroud Support 2/2/88 All holders of OLs
Access Hole Cover Welds or CPs for BWRs.
88-02 Lost or Stolen Gauges 2/2/88 All NRC licensees
authorized to
possess gauges
under a specific
or general
license.
88-01 Safety Injection Pipe 1/27/88 All holders of OLs
Failure or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
86-81, Broken External Closure 1/11/88 All holders of OLs
Supp. 1 Springs on Atwood & Morrill or CPs for nuclear
Main Steam Isolation Valves power reactors.
87-67 Lessons Learned from 12/31/87 All holders of OLs
Regional Inspections of or CPs for nuclear
Licensee Actions in Response power reactors.
to IE Bulletin 80-11
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
