Pacific Nuclear Solutions
Pacific Nuclear Solutions (PNS) represents Nochar (T), Inc., in all international markets that require radioactive liquid waste treatment technologies. PNS is currently active in 21 nuclear countries, an effort that has evolved over the last six years.
For Nochar's "N" series nuclear waste technologies, technical summaries, technical papers and documentation is available at this site and www.Nochar.com. Nochar's site offers information pertaining to their activities in the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Our site offers information pertaining to our international activities. We will continuously update this site as new information is developed. For inquiries, please contact Dennis Kelley at pwtusa@aol.com.
PNS is expanding its product line to meet the needs of its customers and has the ability to supply consumable items used at nuclear power plants.
Khlopin Radium Institute
(PNS Partner in Russia)
St. Petersburg, Russia
General Description of "N" Series Technology
Nochar (USA) has developed new technologies to solidify radioactive organic, oil aqueous, acid/alkaline and complex waste streams generated by nuclear industries. Nochar's "N" series products are considered to be state of the art solidification technology and are used widely in the U.S. Department of Energy complex as well as the NRC and in international markets.
The "N" series provides a low cost, high performance solution to complex liquid waste problems. The prime features of the technology include: no leaching, long-term stability, minimal volumetric increase, no chemical reaction and little or no mixing.
Nochar products have been applied at DOE's Savannah River, Rocky Flats, Mound, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge and INEEL sites; NRC's Waltz Mill NPP, and in international markets. Waste streams include: LLW-HLW tritiated oil, legacy oils with heavy metals, nitric acid / organic extractants, tributyl phosphate (TBP-purex), high alkaline aqueous ILW solution, multi-phase organic solutions, TRU oil and TRU acid, etc.
For final disposal, Nochar treated waste can be placed in long-term and final storage or can be incinerated.
Summary of "N" Series
I. DESCRIPTION OF “N’ TECHNOLOGY
- granular polymers, state of the art absorption technology
- solidification of contaminated liquids: hydrocarbon, acid, alkaline, water
- mechanical, inter-molecular bonding process, “wicking” action
- no chemical reaction; no heat build-up or heat release from waste for hydrocarbon solidification
II. FEATURES OF “N” TECHNOLOGY
- small volumetric increase; generally 5% depending on composition of waste
- bonding ratios vary according to chemical composition and regulatory requirements: ratio based on weight; liquid waste : Nochar polymers
- applies to LLW, ILW and HLW
- tritiated oil, from 1:1 to 2:1
- legacy waste (oil / organic), 2:1 - 4:1
- solvents, 3:1 - 5:1
- acid, 3:1 - 6:1
- alkaline, 1:1 - 3:1
- sludge, 3:1 - 8:1
- no leaching; hydrocarbons, water, acid linked and secured in polymer
- blend polymers to solidify each waste stream
- polymers reduce the risk of fire
- time to complete solidification depends on composition: 1 - 48 hours
- forms of solidified mass vary; solid, gel, flacks or “oatmeal”, sand-like
- stabilizes cesium, plutonium, uranium, cobalt, mercury, lead, etc.
- remains solid for 10,000 years +
- disposal: long-term / final storage or incineration (less than 2% ash)
III. TEST PROGRAMS COMPLETED IN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
- leach tests required / passed (TCLP) at each U.S. DOE site
- hydrogen gas tests on TRU waste
- stability / aging: 90 mega-rad gamma (cobalt source) on oil polymers; 75 mega-rad gamma (cobalt source) on acid / alkaline / water polymer
- pyrophoric metals in aqueous waste stream
- elevated heat test, 140 degree F, 3-14 days on TBP-purex waste
- liquid release test at 50 psi
- VOC gas tests, toxicity tests
Description of N910 Polymer Applied to Hydrocarbon Waste
Nochar’s N910 is a third generation elastomeric polymer. N910 is a complex co-polymer structure made up of a least 5 monomers and has properties similar to nitrile rubber. The polymer strand has the ability to be stretched at least twice its original length.
N910 is not a surface collector, or adsorbent which works, only by trapping liquids (oils, organics, sludge’s) in pours or surface pockets. N910 absorbs liquid through a mechanical wicking action, which absorbs throughout the polymer strand causing the styrene tip to swell as the liquid waste interacts. This action results in completely integrating the liquid within the polymer granule. As the waste and polymer make full contact, they begin to form a molecular bond
As the solidified waste begins to cure, the air pockets within the polymer granule are reduced and constricted, permanently entrapping the waste.
Definitions
Liquids: An amorphous form of matter intermediate between gases and solids in which the molecules are much more concentrated in than in gases but much less concentrated than in solids. Liquids tend to take on the shape of the container or vessel into which it is place. When this condition is changed, by absorption, which creates a solid mass, the matter is no longer considered a liquid.
Solid: Matter in its most highly concentrated form. Solids can produce gases but do not readily conform to containers when placed into them. All solids can be melted by heat and thus be converted to liquids.
Durability
Nochar has solidified radioactive contaminated waste throughout the U.S. nuclear complex as well as countries through out the world. Waste solidified with Nochar polymers have been subjected to rigid durability including high gamma, pressure, ultra violet, microbial, TCLP, vibration, heat, and numerous other testing protocols. Radiation testing includes V.G. Khlopin radium institute in St. Petersburg Russia (270,000,000 rad), Savannah River National Labs in South Carolina (89,000,000 rad), and Purdue University in Indiana (75,000,000 rad). After extreme exposure to Cobalt 60 at the above-mentioned laboratories, conclusive evidence shows that the solid form becomes hard, brittle with no liquid present. Waste solidified with Nochar polymers have passed all durability testing and has never failed to meet a target solidification ratio.
Burial Site Acceptance, U.S. Department of Energy
Nevada Test Site (LLW), Envirocare, Utah (LLW), WIPP (ILW)
Material Safety Data Sheets
Technology Presentation and Test Program
We have learned over the years that each waste stream may have characteristics different from others. For correct application of Nochar's products to a waste stream, it is essential for us to know the basic composition of the waste. Various polymers are blended to create a formula designed to solidify waste according to the customer's requirements.
For this reason, we normally conduct initial bench tests on clean liquids or the actual radioactive waste. Through test trials we can provide various options (bonding ratios) for the customer, in order to comply with leach, compression or other regulatory requirements.
Pacific Nuclear Solutions, upon request, is available to make a formal presentation and conduct tests at the user's site. In selected countries our distributors will perform this activity. For technical assistance, problem solving and full production projects, we are available to ensure success of the project.
Countries Where Nochar "N" Series has been introduced:
- Canada
- France
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- Slovenia
- Romania
- Czech Republic
- Bulgaria
- Norway
- Sweden
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Japan
- China
- Australia
- Taiwan
- South Korea
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Argentina
Technical Presentations and Papers
RUSSIA
Innovative Technology for Radwaste Treatment for New Applications
PBNC 2006 Australia Conference - Paper
CHINA
China's Scientific Investigation for Liquid Waste Treatment Solutions
China's Scientific Investigation - Paper
US AND INTERNATIONAL
Nochar US and International Case Studies
SOUTH AFRICA
UNITED KINGDOM
© 2006 Pacific World Trade, Inc. All rights reserved.