UNIQUE PROCESS COMBINATION DECONTAMINATES MIXED WASTEWATER AT ROCKY FLATS

摘要

The Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) is a U. S. Department ofEnergy facility which was established in 1951, and manufactured nuclear weaponscomponents until 1989. Over time, the plant generated radioactive, hazardous andmixed wastes from manufacturing processes, and experienced numerous incidents ofsoil and groundwater contamination.In 1992, a sophisticated groundwater treatment plant was constructed at the RFETS totreat contaminated groundwater leaching from a known historical waste disposal area,the 881 Hillside (Operable Unit No.1 at RFETS). In recent years, a need wasrecognized to treatremediation wastewater containing volatile organic compounds(VOCs) was required.In 1996, the treatment plant was improved and expanded to treatmixed wastewater from several other operable units (OUs) at Rocky Flats. Theexpanded treatment plant is called the Sitewide Water Treatment Facility(SWTF).Remediation wastewaters treated include decontamination water, tankstabilization water, excavation infiltration groundwater, and thermal desorptioncondensate from the remediation of contaminated soils. The SWTF has several unitoperations which contribute to its versatility, flexibility and effectiveness, includingchemical precipitation, microfiltration, ultraviolet light/hydrogen peroxide oxidation,granular activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange and neutralization.The SWTF is a versatile water treatment facility capable of handling nearly allenvironmental remediation wastewaters identified at RFETS. The SWTF has producedoutstanding performance results treating mixed wastewater from several OUs sincestartup. Operational experience at the SWTF has established that VOCs, metals, andradiological contaminants from a wide variety of influent wastewaters are effectivelytreated with removal efficiencies in the 99% range.