Investigation of red oil decomposition by simulated Hanford tank wastes

Samples of ‘red oil’ have been placed in contact with simulated Hanford tank wastes, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry used to compare energetic content both before and after exposure to these waste simulants. Of the 85 samples studied, 44 samples had their energy content reduced by 90% or more following contact with waste simulant, while 77 of the 85 samples showed at least a 50% fall in energy content. All 85 samples showed at least some reduction in energetic content. The duration of contact between red oil and waste simulant was generally a few hours or days, and the overwhelming majority of the data suggest that contact times of several years, as would be typical in Hanford waste tanks, would further reduce the energy content of red oil to negligible quantities.