Bechtel, one of the world’s leading engineering companies, announced the start of nuclear vitrification operations at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) in Hanford, Washington. This is the first time that highly hazardous waste has been transformed into a solid, stable and safe material.
What is nuclear vitrification?
The vitrification process involves mixing hazardous waste with glass-forming materials, such as silica, and heating them to 1,150 °C in specialized 300-ton furnaces. The result is a vitrified mass that is poured into stainless steel containers, designed for long-term storage without the risk of leaching.
The reason for using this method is because glass is a very stable and durable material that traps radioactive and chemical elements inside, preventing them from leaking into the environment for thousands of years. It is much safer than having the toxic liquids and sludge stored in old tanks that can corrode and contaminate soil and groundwater. contaminate soil and groundwater.
Why is this news important?
Located near the Columbia River, the WTP seeks to reduce the cumulative environmental impacts of more than 70 years of nuclear activity in the area. The plant also represents the result of decades of collaboration between the federal government, the state of Washington, scientists and industry.
In addition, vitrification is considered the best available technology for the safe and long-term disposal of this type of waste.
Next steps
Over the next few months, the Bechtel team will continue to feed waste and vitrifying compounds to the smelter furnaces, processing an average of 5,300 gallons of waste daily. The filled containers will be moved to the Hanford Integrated Disposal Facility, where they will remain in storage under stringent safety standards.
This process will continue for years, allowing the progressive stabilization of thousands of tons of radioactive and chemical waste. This will advance the goal of closing one of the most sensitive chapters in U.S. nuclear history.
Source: Bechtel
