Patent Number: 041487451
Section: description

In Examples 1 to 4 which follow, the employed TBP was produced through enrichment from genuine waste TBP which was not subjected to further drying; the PVC was a commercial grade product containing small amounts of a red filler. Similar results are obtained with any phosphoric acid esters used in reprocessing spent nuclear fuels and/or blanket materials. The results are also independent of the precise nature of radioactive materials involved. The Examples 1 to 4 are merely illustrative and not limitative. EXAMPLE 1 Mixtures of 150 g of PVC chips each and various quantities of TBP are stirred and heated to 100 or 110.degree. C. After cooling, jellylike products of different hardnesses are formed. They are characterized by means of data measured for the penetration coefficient according to DIN 1995. Different mixing ratios give rise to these penetration coefficients: 150 g of PVC chips and 320 g of TBP--penetration coefficient 179; PA0 150 g of PVC chips and 400 g of TBP--penetration coefficient 232; PA0 150 g of PVC chips and 450 g of TBP--penetration coefficient 330; PA0 150 g of PVC chips and 600 g of TBP--penetration coefficient not measurable; PA0 150 g of PVC chips and 700 g of TBP--flows as the vessel is tilted. PA0 75 g of PVC chips and 75 g of TBP--4 weeks; PA0 75 g of PVC chips and 110 g of TBP--5 weeks; PA0 75 g of PVC chips and 160 g of TBP--6 weeks; PA0 75 g of PVC chips and 200 g of TBP--8 weeks; PA0 75 g of PVC chips and 300 g of TBP--10 weeks. EXAMPLE 2 Mixtures of 75 g of PVC chips each and various quantities of TBP are left at room temperature and observed over prolonged periods of time. After some 24 hours the liquid is completely absorbed. When left for a longer time, a homogeneous, jellylike substance is generated which resembles the products generated under the influence of heat. The time up to complete homogenization is a function of the quantitative ratio between PVC and TBP and is approximately: EXAMPLE 3 320 g of TBP are heated to 170.degree. C. and poured into 150 g of PVC chips which are at room temperature. After a short period of stirring, a homogeneous mixture is generated. This mixture solidifies, forming a jellylike mass, on cooling. EXAMPLE 4 150 g of PVC chips and 700 g of TBP are heated to 110.degree. C., as in Example 1; 210 g of cation exchange resin, polysterene resin containing sulfuric acid groups, (previously dried in a drying closet) are stirred into the resulting liquid mixture. After cooling, a soft mass in which the ion exchanger is embedded is obtained. This soft mass does not flow. EXAMPLE 5 As a comparison, Example No. 1 of Fitzgerald et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,738, was substantially reproduced as Test No. 1 as follows: One hundred grams of a low molecular polyethylene were heated to 110.degree. C. under a vacuum of about 1 mm mercury. 130 ml of a simulated organic waste solution comprising 30 volume percent tributylphosphate (TBP) and 70 volume percent dodecane were added to the heated polyethylene liquid during a period of 40 minutes. After mixing to form a substantially homogeneous texture, the temperature of the evaporator was increased to 130.degree. C. and the mixture was heated further for 20 minutes to volatilize the dodecane, and during this time 90 ml of a liquid distillate were received. The pressure in the evaporator was then increased to atmospheric and the liquid residue was drained out into a beaker. Thereafter, the mass was left to cool to room temperature. The only difference between the process in this test and the process of the example No. 1 of Fitzgerald et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,738, was the difference in reduced pressure in the evaporator. The effect of the lower pressure in the test process (1 mm Hg) is that the vaporization of the organic solvent is enhanced. A relatively hard, nonflexible mass of a wax-like consistency which shrunk to an undesirable degree during cooling was formed. In a second comparison test, the solidification process in Example No. 2 of Fitzgerald et al. was substantially reproduced, with the exception of using the same TBP-dodecane-solution as in Test No. 1 above, as follows: One hundred grams of a low molecular polyethylene were heated to 110.degree. C. 130 ml of a simulated organic waste solution comprising 30 volume percent tributylphosphate and 70 volume percent dodecane were added to the heated polyethylene liquid during a period of 40 minutes. After mixing to form a substantially homogenous texture, the temperature was then increased to 130.degree. C. without producing a vacuum. After extraction, the mass was left to cool to room temperature. A relatively hard, nonflexible mass of a wax-like consistency which shrunk to an undesirable degree during cooling was formed. The hardened mass from this test showed a formation of cracks. It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.