Independent conference paper. Presented at the 1989 Waste Management Symposium and indexed by the IAEA INIS database. The summary below is for reference and search; the record and full proceedings paper (linked) are the authoritative sources.
01 Overview
02 Why this study matters
Where the 1988 paper established the media's laboratory performance, this 1989 paper reports it holding up in the field, at scale:
- Real throughput: processor US Ecology solidified more than 40,000 gallons of radioactive oil waste, achieving approximately 80% loading of waste in the final disposal volume.
- Deployment record: over 1,000 55-gallon drums solidified with the AQUASET®/PETROSET® family had been buried, and wastes at more than 20 facilities had been solidified since approval in 1986.
- Regulatory acceptance: approved for burial at Richland (WA) and Beatty (NV); approval for Barnwell (SC) was requested from the state in early 1989.
03 Leachability & heavy-metal results
Across the family of agents, leachability indices for radioisotopes ranged from 8.3 to 9.5, and most heavy metals were rendered non-hazardous under the EPA Toxic Metal (TCLP) Extraction test. Based on available data, AQUASET®/PETROSET®-solidified wastes showed leach rates up to two orders of magnitude lower than Envirostone Cement, a widely used medium for low-level radioactive waste.
| Isotope | Average Leachability Index (LI)* |
|---|---|
| Cobalt-60 | 9.5 |
| Cesium-137 | 8.9 |
| Strontium-85 | 8.3 |
* Averaged across agents and leachants (distilled water, pH 2.3–9.5, and seawater). A higher index reflects a lower leach rate; each whole number is one order of magnitude.
04 Field processing capability
The paper also describes mobile processing systems deployed at the generator's site:
- Batch systems for open-top 55-gallon drums — capable of processing 15–40 drums (60–1,800 gallons) per day.
- A continuous mixer for larger volumes and all container types — solidifying liquid waste at 4–5 gpm, about 2,000 gallons per day.