Year
2011
Abstract
Aluminum leaching studies to support the WTP have been performed since 1994. In that time, over 44 different tank wastes have been tested and analyzed. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory prepared a summary document [Lumetta 2007] on the washing and leaching studies performed for the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP). The number of tests that have been performed is driven by the WTP project need to understand the aluminum solubility in Hanford Tank waste to allow development of effective leaching operations. Based on the testing performed, leaching of aluminum can be maximized through optimization of three variables: • Temperature of leaching • Time of leaching • Hydroxide ion concentration Therefore, definition of leaching steps will require controlling these three parameters