Immobilization of waste material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A method for immobilizing and solidifying and reducing the volume of hazardous waste material which comprises blending substantially anhydrous powdered waste material with powdered metal, and subjecting the admixture to a pressure of at least 10 tons/in.
sup.
2 for sufficient time to provide a strong solid of reduced volume and wherein the amount of said powdered metal is up to about 20% by weight based on the weight of solid waste material and is at least sufficient to immobilize and solidify said waste when subjected to said pressure.
2.
The method of claim 1 wherein said waste material has a diameter of about 1 micron to about 1/16 inch.
3.
The method of claim 1 wherein said waste material is low level radioactive waste material.
4.
The method of claim 1 wherein said powdered metal is selected from the group consisting of powdered iron, powdered nickel, powdered bronze alloys, powdered aluminum, and powdered steels.
5.
The method of claim 1 wherein said powdered metal is powdered iron.
6.
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said metal is at least about 1.
5% by weight based upon the weight of the solid waste material.
7.
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of powdered metal is about 1.
5 to about 3% by weight based upon the weight of the solid waste material.
8.
The method of claim 1 wherein the powdered metal is employed in amounts of about 2 to about 3% by weight based upon the weight of the solid waste material.
9.
The method of claim 1 wherein the powdered metal has a particle size distribution as follows:
______________________________________
Particle Size Distribution, %
______________________________________
Larger than 177 microns
1
Between 177 and 149 microns
4
Between 149 and 105 microns
20
Between 105 and 74 microns
27
Between 74 and 44 microns
24
Smaller than 44 microns
24
______________________________________
10