A mixed waste mediated electrochemical oxidation process (MEO) process and
apparatus for the dissolution of transuranic elements, and/or compounds
thereof in transuranic waste, low level waste (LLW), low level mixed
waste, special case waste, and greater than class C LLWS, and also the
destruction of the non-fluorocarbon organic component in the waste. The
MEO process and apparatus operates in three different modes: dissolution,
destruction, and decontamination. In the first mode, dissolution, the
process runs until the transuranics such as a mixed oxide or carbide,
and/or mixture of oxides or carbides of uranium and plutonium are totally
dissolved into solution. The second mode, destruction, the process is
operated such that the mixed waste materials are reduced to CO.sub.2,
water and small amounts of inorganic salts. The third mode,
decontamination, involves contaminated equipment. In the decontamination
mode the MEO process destroys the mixed wastes that have contaminated the
equipment.