Other Binders - Stabilization and Solidification of Hazardous, Radioactive, and Mixed Wastes - page 135

commercial facilities. 31 It is also currently being used as a stabilization agent at the
Containerized Waste Facility in Utah by Envirocare of Utah, Inc. for Class A
containerized LLRW. 31 No cases have been reported of free-liquid generation from
LLRW forms produced with Envirostone. Apparently, the lower rate at which LLRW
produces radiolytic H 2 is within the ability of Envirostone's pore structure to contain
the interstitial liquid.

6.4.5 C ONCLUSION

Envirostone entered the market at a time that saw myriad different stabilization
technologies surface to meet increasing regulatory requirements. Its formulation
incorporated gypsum and polymer products in an attempt to gain the advantages of
both materials. Due to the different chemistry of the gypsum reaction, Envirostone
was compatible with several nuclear power plant waste streams with which portland
cement was not, such as boric acid evaporator bottoms. It was only formally marketed
for Class A LLRW. However, attempts were made to expand into stabilization of
Class B and C LLRW and TRU-level radioactive waste with some limited success.
It was ultimately discontinued for TRU use due to issues that allowed excessive
leaching and free-liquid generation from radiolytic H 2 . A limited shelf-life 1 and a
high cost compared to portland cement 11 also lessened the attractiveness of Enviro-
stone in relation to portland cement.

REFERENCES

1. Envirostone ™ Gypsum Cement: Solidification Medium for Low Level Radioactive

Wastes, T.L. Rosenstiel, M.D. Joss, and R.G. Lange, United States Gypsum Company,
Chicago, Jan. 1982.

2. U.S. Patent, Rosenstiel et al., Jan. 3, 1984. 2 U.S. Patent 4,424,148 issued Jan. 3,

1984 to U.S. Gypsum Co. for Envirostone™.

3. D.E. Clark, P. Colombo, and R.M. Neilson, Jr., “Solidification of Oils and Organic

Liquids,” BNL-51612, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, July 1982.

4. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 61.55,

Waste Classification-Low-Level Waste Licensing Branch Technical Position on
Radioactive Waste Classification, Rev. 0, May 1983.

5. “Measurement of Leachability of Solidified Low-Level Radioactive Wastes by a Short-

term Test Procedure,” ANSI/ANS-16.1-2003, American Nuclear Society, LaGrange,
IL, 2003.

6. American Society for Testing and Materials, “Standard Test Methods for Physical

Testing of Gypsum, Gypsum Plasters and Gypsum Concrete,” ASTM C 472-73,
ASTM International, Philadelphia, 1973.

7. American Society for Testing and Materials, Standard Test Methods for Freezing and

Thawing Compacted Soil-Cement Mixtures,” ASTM D 560-82, ASTM International,
Philadelphia, 1982.

8. U.S. Department of Energy, “Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste Acceptance Cri-

teria for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant,” WIPP/DOE-02-3122, Revision 0.1 July
25, 2002.