TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Journal Article
·
· Chem. & Process Eng.
OSTI ID:4095788
In Great Britain the greatest amount of radioactive waste arises from work carried out by the Atomic Energy Authority. These wastes vary considerably, ranging from highly radioactive liquids, resulting from the processing of spent nuclear fuel, to the effluents from the research centers and isotope production units. During the operation of a nuclear reactor a complex mixture of radioactive elements is formed in the fuel, collectively called fission products. The exact composition of the mixture depends on the type of fuel used and the rate of burn-up in the reactor. There are normally over 30 elements so produced ranging from Zn/sup 72/ to Dy/sup 61/. Many of the fission products have short half lives and decay very quickly so they present no major problem. Wastes containing fission products possessing long half lives and those which have the lowest allowable concentrations in the human body must be treated and disposed of without contaminating the environment. Procedures for the treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes are reviewed. General methods of concentration containment, and dispersal are discussed. Factors involved in decontamination of wastes, ion exchange processes, chemical precipitation, and direct dispersal methods are discussed in detail. Flow diagrams are included for a typical method which incorporates all the commonly employed processes for the treatment of radioactive liquids and a process for recycling liquid radioactive wastes. Methods for conversion of liquid wastes into solid form and for the disposal of solid wastes are discussed. (C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-010586
- OSTI ID:
- 4095788
- Journal Information:
- Chem. & Process Eng., Journal Name: Chem. & Process Eng. Vol. Vol: 42
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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