Magnetic separation of Department of Energy wastes

This report provides a description of the research activities performed to evaluate the application of paramagnetic separation technology for the reduction or elimination of certain Department of Energy (DOE) hazardous or low-level radioactive wastes. The research was performed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory under the direction of the DOE Hazardous Waste Remedial Actions Program (HAZWRAP) Support Contractor Office. The DOE waste materials that are the best candidates for reduction by the paramagnetic separation process are those where the hazardous portion of the waste has different magnetic properties from the materials from which it is being separated; paramagnetic relates to small but positive magnetic susceptibility. Magnetic separation is commercially used to (1) remove impurities such as Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/, TiO/sub 2/, and K/sub 2/O from clay for use in glossy paper products and (2) concentrate ores in the mining industry. The objective of this research is to evaluate magnetic separation for DOE applications by (1) selecting candidate DOE waste streams, (2) evaluating the potential of magnetic separation to meet DOE program objectives, and (3) determining if implementation of magnetic separation is economical for the selected waste streams. 8 refs., 21 figs., 13 tabs.