Orbit Technologies to Evaluate Waste Stream in LM Contract

Orbit Technologies, Inc. (Carlsbad, CA) announced on Jun. 2 that Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (LMITCO) awarded it a contract to test its proprietary Polymer Encapsulation Technology (PET) with a surrogate calcine waste. It is the second contract awarded to Orbit relating to the calcine waste processed at INTEC.

According to the contract of work, the company will conduct an expanded laboratory scale evaluation of its PET material for the encapsulation of surrogate calcine waste processed at Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC).

A company spokesperson indicated that the LMITCO contract is a follow-on phase as the next step in a building block approach to commercialize Orbit's waste remediation system.

The contract calls for Orbit to formulate a version of its patent-pending PET for use in the encapsulation of dry granular high-level calcine waste from the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL).

The INTEC calcine waste, which results from nuclear-fuel reprocessing, consists of salts and a variety of heavy metal constituents.

The contract requires Orbit to formulate the final waste form with the highest possible waste loading that will still pass Toxicity Characteristic Leach Procedure (TCLP) testing and provide a solid monolith with a compressive strength of 300 to 500 psi.

The company will then evaluate the most favorable mix using a variety of protocols, including Department of Transportation (DOT) oxidizer testing, industry standard corrosiveness testing, and a drop test.

Lockheed also requested that Orbit provide a test plan to include suggested testing procedures, quality control and safety standards, and a discussion of the analytical techniques to evaluate the encapsulation process and final waste form. Orbit must submit the test plan to INEEL by Jun. 7.

Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (LMITCO) is a division of the energy and environment sector of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Orbit Technologies, Inc. is an intellectual property holding company.

Contact: Orbit Technologies, Inc., James B. Lahey. Tel: 760-918-9168.