Method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste
AssigneeMolten Metal Technology, Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Nagel, Robert D. Bach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component. The method includes directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath. A separation agent is directed in the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a reaction product which separates from the remaining component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product. The separation reagent can be, for example, an oxidant, a metal-ligand exchange reagent, or a reducing agent. The non-radioactive product can be a gas, a liquid, or a precipitate.
Claims46
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- (b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a radioactive reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the non-radioactive component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- (b) directing a metal-ligand exchange reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- (b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the non-radioactive component of the radioactive waste composition to form a reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition, comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing a radioactive waste composition, which includes a non-radioactive component and more than one radioactive component, into a molten metal bath;
- and
- (b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and form the remaining components, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the radioactive component to form a radioactive reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining component, said remaining component thereby forming the non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the non-radioactive component to form a non-radioactive product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining radioactive component.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the non-radioactive component to form a non-radioactive product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining radioactive component;
- and
- c) directing a metal-ligand exchange reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the radioactive component to form a radioactive reaction product, which separates from the molten metal bath.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- b) directing a metal-ligand exchange reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the radioactive component to form a metal-ligand exchange reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining non-radioactive component;
- and
- c) directing the separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the non-radioactive component to form a non-radioactive product that separates from the molten metal bath.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes more than one radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the non-radioactive component of the radioactive waste composition to form a non-radioactive product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the remaining radioactive components;
- and
- c) directing a metal-ligand exchange reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the radioactive components to form radioactive reaction products, at least one of which separates from the molten metal bath.
A method for separating a radioactive component from a waste composition that includes at least one radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the waste composition into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with the radioactive component of the waste composition to form a radioactive reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from at least one remaining component of the waste composition.
A method for separating a radioactive component from a waste composition that includes at least two radioactive components having different levels of radioactivity, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the waste composition into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with less than all of the radioactive component, whereby a radioactive reaction product forms which separates from the molten metal bath and from at least one remaining radioactive component having a different level of radioactivity than that of the radioactive component which reacts with the separation reagent.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which oxidizes the radioactive component of the radioactive waste composition to form a radioactive reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the non-radioactive component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a radioactive reaction product that separates from the molten metal bath and from the non-radioactive component as a gas, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
A method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component, comprising the steps of:
- a) directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath;
- and
- b) directing a separation reagent into the molten metal bath which reduces the radioactive component of the radioactive waste composition to form a radioactive reaction product that precipitates from the molten metal bath and from the non-radioactive component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.