INEEL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CHEMICAL SEPARATIONSPROGRAM

摘要

Chemical separation technologies for the treatment of radioactive wastes, includinghighly radioactive liquid wastes and solid calcined wastes, mixed wastes, andcontaminated groundwater have been under development at the Idaho NationalEngineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) since 1992. The INEELEnvironmental Management (EM) Chemical Separations Program has successfullydeveloped and demonstrated numerous technologies on simulated and actual radioactivewastes to support the INEEL High Level Waste Program. These technologies haverepeatedly shown that the tank waste and dissolved calcine at the INEEL can bedecontaminated to levels below NRC Class A Low Level Waste Criteria.The technologies used to separate radionuclides from INEEL radioactive wastes includesolvent extraction and ion exchange technologies. Solvent extraction technologies testedat the INEEL include the transuranium extraction (TRUEX) process for the removal of U,Pu, Am and Tc; the strontium extractio n (SREX) process for the removal of Sr and Pb;the cobalt dicarbollide process for the removal of Cs and Sr; and the universal extraction(UNEX) process for the simultaneous removal of U, Pu, Am, Cs, and Sr from acidicwaste solutions. Ion exchange processes using inorganic ion exchange sorbents such ashexacyanoferrates, silicotitanates and ammonium molybdophosphate to remove cesiumhave been demonstrated on actual waste solutions. Other ion exchange sorbents toremove contaminants from groundwater or drinking water have been developed andtested.Successful development and testing efforts by the INEEL EM Chemical SeparationsProgram have included numerous national and international collaborations. Thesecollaborations have led to numerous demonstrations of novel technologies as well as thegeneration of intellectual property.