Characterization of Technetium Speciation in Cast Stone

This report describes the results from laboratory tests performed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EM-31 Support Program (EMSP) subtask, “Production and Long-Term Performance of Low Temperature Waste Forms” to provide additional information on technetium (Tc) speciation characterization in the Cast Stone waste form. To support the use of Cast Stone as an alternative to vitrification for solidifying low-activity waste (LAW) and as the current baseline waste form for secondary waste streams at the Hanford Site, additional understanding of Tc speciation in Cast Stone is needed to predict the long-term Tc leachability from Cast Stone and to meet the regulatory disposal-facility performance requirements for the Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF). Characterizations of the Tc speciation within the Cast Stone after leaching under various conditions provide insights into how the Tc is retained and released. The data generated by the laboratory tests described in this report provide both empirical and more scientific information to increase our understanding of Tc speciation in Cast Stone and its release mechanism under relevant leaching processes for the purpose of filling data gaps and to support the long-term risk and performance assessments of Cast Stone in the IDF at the Hanford Site.. Authors: Um, Wooyong [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Jung, Hun Bok [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Wang, Guohui [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Westsik, Joseph H. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Peterson, Reid A. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]. DOE Contract: AC05-76RL01830. Subjects: Cast Stone; Low Activity Waste; Technetium Speciation Characterization