OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Department of Energy said “innovative technology” was successful in treating and disposing of nuclear waste that’s been stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for over 50 years.
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and a contractor, United Cleanup Oak Ridge, used Veolia Nuclear Solutions’ patented GeoMelt technology at the Waste Control Specialists facility in Andrews, Texas. The process turned the waste, highly reactive metals called sodium shields, into stable, durable glass for safe permanent disposal.
The DOE said the GeoMelt process is unique because it doesn’t use any liquid to support treatment and avoids generating more waste that is harder to get rid of. After treatment, the waste is no longer reactive or ignitable…