Radioactive and Mixed Waste Treatment Agents
The Fluid Tech (FT) products are solidification/stabilization agents, developed for the efficient and economical disposal of radioactive, hazardous chemical, and mixed wastes. They are slightly alkaline, non-flammable, non-reactive and non-corrosive, and are not biodegradable. These reagents immobilize wastes (liquid, sludge, or solid) through the action of complex bonding mechanisms and ion exchange reactions. The end result is an homogenous waste solid with excellent leach resistance.
They are:
Please select a product:
Aquaset Aquaset II Aquaset II-H Aquaset II-G Aquaset II-GH
Petroset Petroset-H Petroset II Petroset II-G
They have significant advantages over other S/S technologies:
A - Volumetric Efficiency.
Typical volume expansions with FTI products run between 5% and 20%. Corresponding expansions with cement and/or pozzolanic treatments run between 50% and 125%. This has the effect of greatly affecting the most expensive cost element in the whole process - namely, final disposal. For example, between 45 and 48 gallons of waste can be solidified by FTI products, with room to spare, in a 55-gallon drum.
B - Leaching Resistance.
The ability of a treated waste to withstand groundwater attack (assumed to be acid) is measured for radioactive wastes by Test ANS/ANSI 16.1; for chemically hazardous wastes by the EPA TCLP (40 CFR Part 261, Appendix II); and, for mixed wastes, by both.
C - Retention of VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Cementitious and/or pozzolanic treatment reactions are strongly exothermic. Temperature rises of 24ºC have been observed during treatment mixing. Under these conditions VOC's (if present) tend to be "cooked-out" into the atmosphere. If not confined, collected, and treated, they can be a source of regulatory embarrassment. FTI products, on the other hand, produce temperature rises on the order of 2ºC to 4ºC, thus substantially reducing this "cook-out" phenomenon.
PRODUCTS
Aquaset is a water-activated, granular solidification agent used for treatment of aqueous liquids containing small amounts of dissolved and suspended solids, detergents, chelating agents, resins, and up to 5% oils. Aquaset does not require stirring, and is utilized by simple addition to the aqueous liquid waste. Usually only 100 to 150 pounds of Aquaset are required to solidify 45 to 48 gallons of liquid waste in a 55-gallon drum.
It is a granular material with a particle size range from ‑4 to +10 US MESH. It will solidify aqueous solutions with low to moderate levels of dissolved solids, and less than 5% oils or other organic compounds. It is used without power mixing, simply by adding it to the waste in a container (such as a 55‑gallon drum). Since it is used without mixing, its use in a container which has solid sludge or undissolved solids in the bottom is not recommended. It also is used as a top‑off absorbent in drums or other containers to capture condensation moisture. The pH of the liquid waste shall be adjusted to be between 5 and 11 prior to testing and solidifying. The end product is a soft solid.
Aquaset is also used as an absorbent in containers of damp or wet waste (suits, mops, rags, soils, sludges, etc.) to capture and retain moisture which otherwise, thru vibration or transportation, could become a free liquid.
Aquaset II is an extremely versatile powdered solidifier. A 200‑MESH screen will pass 80% to 85% of the Aquaset by weight. It is used with aqueous waste solutions that are high in dissolved solids (salty solutions). It also will solidify many water‑soluble or miscible organic compounds (such as glycols). Aquaset II also finds its greatest utility in the solidification of aqueous solutions extremely high in dissolved solids, such as neutralized acids and bases, and those organic liquids that are water soluble or miscible. Examples of organic liquids in this category would include alcohols, benzenes, glycols, and low molecular weight ketones. Mixtures of Aquaset II and Petroset II are ideal when the above liquids are present in combination with oils and/or greases. Use of Aquaset II requires power mixing equipment. It is often used in conjunction with Petroset and Petroset II. It is particularly useful in treating Mixed Wastes which contain both heavy metals and water‑miscible organic compounds. The end product is a firm, soft solid. The pH of the liquid waste shall be adjusted to be between 5 and 11 prior to testing and solidifying. With EDTA solutions, pH shall be adjusted to fall between 7.5 and 10.0.
Aquaset II is used to treat wastes at any temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Aquaset II‑H is used for the same range of wastes for which Aquaset II is used. Unlike
Aquaset II, Aquaset II‑H sets up to a hard matrix. Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi,or 48.8 metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up more slowly than Aquaset II.
Aquaset II-G is a versatile absorbent based on the Aquaset II powdered solidification reagent. It works well with aqueous solutions extremely high in dissolved solids, such as neutralized acids and bases, and those organic liquids that are mixed with water and are water soluble or miscible. Examples of organic liquids in this category would include alcohols, benzenes, glycols, and low molecular weight ketones.
Aquaset II-G is the absorbent of choice for liquids that are too salty, or contain levels of organics too high for regular Aquaset®. Application levels for Aquaset II-G depend on the type of liquid being absorbed. Application level for any individual waste stream should be determined by bench scale testing. The range in which Aquaset II-G normally works well is between 8 and 12 lb/gallon.
Aquaset II-G may either be added to the liquid solution, mixed into a wet material, or placed under it so that it is available to absorb any liquid released.
Aquaset II-GH is used for the same range of wastes for which Aquaset II®-G is used. Unlike Aquaset II-G, Aquaset II-GH sets up to form a hard matrix. Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi, or 48.8 metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up slower than Aquaset II-G.
Aquaset II‑GH is used to treat wastes at any temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Petroset is an efficient solidifier for the same waste liquids as Aquaset and, since it is used with power mixing, it also is used to treat aqueous sludges and particle suspensions. A 200‑MESH screen will pass 80% to 85% of the Petroset by weight. With the addition of small amounts of water, it can solidify dry solids. It is frequently used in combination with other Fluid Tech, Inc. products such as Aquaset II and Petroset II. The end product is a firm, soft solid. The pH of the liquid waste shall be adjusted to be between 5 and 11 prior to testing and solidifying.
Petroset‑H is used with the same range of wastes for which Petroset is used. Unlike Petroset, Petroset‑H sets up to a hard matrix. Load‑bearing strengths over 5 tons per square foot (69 psi, or 48.8 metric tons per square meter) can be achieved. It sets up more slowly than Petroset.
Petroset‑H is used to treat wastes at any temperature above that at which any liquid components of the raw waste are fluid, and below 60°C (140°F).
Petroset II is an organophilic solidifier which will solidify most non-aqueous liquids, such as oils and other hydrocarbons. Petroset II will not solidify aqueous liquids. The end product is a firm, soft solid. Treatment of wastes which have both water-miscible and water immiscible components is accomplished through the use of a combination of Petroset II with Petroset, or Petroset II with Aquaset II. Petroset II, used alone, will not solidify nor chemically stabilize aqueous phases of a waste. With the addition of Aquaset II or Petroset, as described above, heavy metal contaminants in the aqueous phase of a two-phase waste will be chemically stabilized simultaneously with the organic components. Power mixing is required.
Combination Applications of Petroset II
Petroset II is used in combination with Petroset and Aquaset II, when the waste to be solidified is a mixture of aqueous and non-aqueous liquids, or emulsions.
Polar Activators for Petroset II
Polar activators are used to accelerate the setting of Petroset II. Commonly used activators are low‑molecular weight alcohols such as Methanol, Propanol, or Isopropyl Alcohol (no activators are required with Aquaset, Petroset, or Aquaset II).
Temperature Requirements for Petroset II
When Petroset II is used, the temperature of the waste and the Petroset II shall be 60oF (15ºC) or higher at the time of mixing. The waste and the Petroset II can be mixed at lower temperatures, but the waste will not set up properly until it warms up to approximately 60ºF (15ºC). Once warmed up to 60ºF (15ºC), the solidification is irreversible.
Low-Temperature Petroset II
A special Petroset II is available, on special order, which shall be used wherever immediate solidification at sustained low temperatures is required.
Petroset II-G is a special product based on the Petroset II powdered reagent. This product is used to treat oils or liquids that contain organics not miscible with water. Petroset II-G will not absorb water. It will work much faster with light organics such as kerosene, diesel, and gasoline than, for example, 30-wt. oil. However, it will absorb the more viscous oils over a longer time period, i.e., 30 minutes to 1 hour, as compared to a few minutes for the light organics.
Petroset II-G can be mixed with a large variety of host materials that have the capability of releasing free oil, or organic liquid. Application levels for Petroset II-G are dependent on the type of organic liquid being absorbed. Application rates for individual materials should be determined by bench scale testing. The range in which Petroset II-G normally works well is between 7 and 14 lb/gallon of liquid. In cases where a material has the potential to release oils or other non-miscible organics mixed-in with water, Petroset II-G should be used in conjunction with either Aquaset or Aquaset II-G so that the water component, as well as the oil, can be absorbed.
Petroset II-G may be added to the liquid, or mixed with the host material, so it will catch any liquid released from the waste. It can also be placed in the bottom of a container, under the material, so that if leakage occurs, the liquid will be absorbed when it reaches the absorbent on the container bottom.
Curing
With two exceptions (Petroset-H and Aquaset II-H) FTI solidifiers cure to a stiff putty-like consistency in from one to twenty-four hours, depending upon the nature of the raw waste and its matrix.
Petroset-H and Aquaset II-H are chemically equivalent to their respective namesakes. They differ in that they cure more slowly (48 to 96 hours), and result in a hard end product. Again, depending on the makeup of the raw waste, typical 28-day Penetrometer readings will be well over 3.6 tons per square foot (50 PSI).
Mixing
With the exception of Aquaset, which is a granular product designed for use on aqueous wastes with negligible solids, all of the FTI products are finely-divided powders (200 mesh). Good dispersion of the solidifier material within the waste matrix is essential to ensure that there are no "islands" of untreated waste. Since these materials begin to "catch" or clot the waste rather quickly, good shear action is desirable to break down over-treated clots, and to achieve good dispersion. In drums, a simple four-blade impeller, slightly smaller in OD than the ID of the drum, works well. Means should be provided to raise and lower the impeller during mixing. Bulk mixing can be done in a ribbon blender, pug mill, or similar apparatus.
SUMMARY
These brief product descriptions are presented as general guidelines in the use of Fluid Tech solidification media. Because of nearly endless waste varieties, determination of a specific waste and Fluid Tech media recipe is essential to achieve optimum balance of efficiency and economy.