Feasibility of using biological degradation for the on-sitetreatment of mixed wastes
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Source
- Conference: Seventh International In Situ and On-SiteBioremediation Symposium, Orlando, FL, June 2-62003
- Subject
- 10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ACETONITRILE
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREMEDIATION
HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
METHANOL
MIXTURES
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLVENTS
TRITIUM
WASTES
WATER mixed wastes biological treatment
mixed wastes biological treatment
- Language
- English
This research was conducted to investigate the feasibility of applying microbial biodegradation as a treatment technology for wastes containing radioactive elements and organic solvents (mixed wastes). In this study, we focused our efforts on the treatment of wastes generated by biomedical research as the result of purifying tritium labeled compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These wastes are typically 80 percent water with 20 percent acetonitrile or methanol or a mixture of both. The objective was to determine the potential of using biodegradation to treat the solvent component of tritiated mixed waste to a concentration below the land disposal restriction standard (1mg/L for acetonitrile). Once the standard is reached, the remaining radioactive waste is no longer classified as a mixed waste and it can then be solidified and placed in a secure landfill. This investigation focused on treating a 10 percent acetonitrile solution, which was used as a non-radioactive surrogate for HPLC waste, in a bioreactor. The results indicated that the biodegradation process could treat this solution down to less than 1 mg/L to meet the land disposal restriction standard.