Patent Number: 044420285
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawing which illustrate the method of the invention, it is seen that the waste phosphoric acid solution is brought into contact with Ca(OH).sub.2 to effect a precipitation. The amount of Ca(OH).sub.2 is proportioned stoichiometrically to produce a precipitate of Ca.sub.10 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 (OH).sub.2. This compound is a mineral known as hydroxyapatite and is extremely insoluble in water. Other alkali substances, such as NaOH, may be added to control the pH balance of the precipitation. It has been found that a pH of about 10 will result in finely divided precipitate which is readily pumpable. A pH of from 7.5 to 8.5 has been found to allow the precipitate crystals to agglomerate or otherwise grow to sizes where they can readily settle or be filtered out. The precipitate may then be separated from the supernate by such well known operations as filtration or decantation. Generally, radionuclides which may be present will precipitate with and be incorporated in the hydroxyapatite and the supernate may then be discarded. The precipitate may then be dried and crushed to remove large lumps. The precipitate is then mixed with portland cement in a ratio of from 3:1 to 1:1 precipitate to cement. Sufficient water is then added (if not already present) to make a pourable concrete mix. The mixture is then cast in any desired shape and allowed to cure for approximately seven days or until the cast shape has enough mechanical strength for permanent disposal. EXAMPLE A synthetic 6% phosphoric acid waste solution was spiked to a cobalt-60 concentration of 200 uCi/1. This solution was then neutralized with a stoichiometric amount of Ca(OH).sub.2 as the pH was adjusted to 7.8 with NaOH. The resulting precipitate had a cobalt-60 activity of 1028 uCi/Kg while the supernate had an activity of only 1-3 uCi/1. Aliquots of the precipitate were mixed with portland cement in ratio of 3 parts precipitate to 1 part cement and equal parts precipitate and cement and then hydrated. The resulting samples were tested for durability by leaching for 3 days in 40.degree. C. water. The leach rates were measured to be 1.4.times.10.sup.-3 gm/cm.sup.2 -day and 9.6.times.10.sup.-4 gm/cm.sup.2 -day respectively. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.