ABSTRACT
A variety of treatment methods exist for the various mixed waste types currently existing and being generated in both the government (e.g., the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex) and private sector (e.g., the medical and nuclear power industries). Fundamental treatment methods for mixed waste consist of thermal destruction, nonthermal destruction, chemical treatment, physical treatment, treatment for separating specific chemical fractions (radioactive and/or nonradioactive), and/or immobilization through stabilization that may or may not involve thermal or solidification methods. Specific technologies to accomplish these methods include, but are not limited to, incineration, plasma melting, wet air oxidation, acid digestion, pH adjustment, surface decontamination, filtration, evaporation, ion exchange, solvent extraction, and cement grouting.
