Purification processes nuclear waste treatment

Potential applications for CA-CDI technology include the purification of boiler water for fossil and nuclear power plants, volume reduction of liquid radioactive waste, treatment of agricultural wastewater containing pesticides and other toxic compounds, creation of ultrapure water for semiconductor processing, treatment of wastewater from electroplating operations, desalination of seawater, and removal of salt from water for agricultural irrigation. 

It has been demonstrated that membrane separation processes can be successfully used in the removal of radioactive substances, with some distinct advantages over conventional processes. Following the development of suitable membrane materials and their long-term verification in conventional water purification, membrane processes have been adopted by the nuclear industry as a viable alternative for the treatment of radioactive liquid wastes [1]. In most applications, membrane processes are used as one or more of the treatment steps in complex waste treatment systems, which combine both conventional and membrane treatment technologies. These combined systems have proved more efficient and effective for similar tasks than conventional methods alone. 

The RO process was implemented at the Institute of Atomic Energy, Swierk. The wastes collected there, from all users of nuclear materials in Poland, have to be processed before safe disposal. Until 1990 the wastes were treated by chemical methods that sometimes did not ensure sufficient decontamination. To reach the discharge standards the system of radioactive waste treatment was modernized. A new evaporator integrated with membrane installation replaced old technology based on chemical precipitation with sorption on inorganic sorbents. Two installations, EV and 3RO, can operate simultaneously or separately. The membrane plant is applied for initial concentration of the waste before the evaporator. It may be also used for final cleaning of the distillate, depending on actual needs. The need for additional distillate purification is necessitated due to entrainment of radionuclides with droplets or with the volatile radioactive compounds, which are carried over. 

Zakrzewska-Trznadel, G., Harasimowicz, M., and Chmielewski, A.G., Membrane processes in nuclear technology—appUcation for fiquid radioactive waste treatment, Sep. Purif. Technol., 22-23, 617, 2001. 

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