Pilot-scale demonstration of process wastewater decontamination using chabazite zeolites
Improved precipitation and ion-exchange methods are being developed to decontaminate Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) process wastewaters containing small amounts of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 137}Cs while minimizing waste generation. A wide range of potential processes have been tested in laboratory-scale scouting tests. Based on the data from these scouting tests, several alternative flowsheets have been developed for long-term upgrade of the facility. The primary objective of these proposed flowsheets is to minimize secondary waste generation, particularly liquid wastes, and produce a nonhazardous waste form that can be safely stored with minimum surveillance. The most promising process consists of passing wastewater through a series of columns containing chabazite zeolite, an inorganic ion-exchange material, to remove both cesium and strontium. The flowsheet has the advantage of being a simple, reliable process that produces one type of solid waste. The feasibility of this process has been demonstrated using pilot-scale equipment at the Process Waste Treatment Plant (PWTP). A single near-full-scale column has also been tested at the PWTP for cesium removal. This report summarizes the results of both chabazite tests performed at the PWTP in 1987. 16 refs., 12 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5066633
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-10836; ON: DE90005024
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ION EXCHANGE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
PRECIPITATION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
DECONTAMINATION
ZEOLITES
CESIUM 137
ORNL
STRONTIUM 90
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CLEANING
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects