The Hanford Vit Plant recently received more than 3,500 gallons of sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye. Workers will use the chemical to treat hazardous gasses generated during the plant’s waste vitrification process, ensuring that plant emissions meet requirements from the Washington State departments of Ecology and Health. During vitrification, waste from Hanford’s underground tanks will be mixed with glass-forming materials in high-temperature melters for safe disposal. In addition to treating emissions, workers use the chemical to simulate Hanford tank waste during melter testing. Many industries use sodium hydroxide as a versatile chemical. However, workers must treat it like other industrial chemicals: as a hazardous substance. To help ensure safe handling of the hazardous chemical, workers follow strict safety protocols, including storing it in an isolated tank at the plant.
About the Vit Plant
In southeastern Washington state, Bechtel National, Inc. is designing, constructing, and commissioning the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment plant for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). When complete, the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, will process and stabilize millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste currently stored at the Hanford Site.