Treatment of stored radioactive liquid organic waste at NECSA prior to disposal

摘要

Liquid radioactive waste containing small quantities of organic compounds are stored inudhigh density polyethylene (HDPE) drums at the South Africa Nuclear Energy Corporationud(Necsa). These wastes were not encapsulated into cement like other waste streams due toudthe possibility that the organic compounds in the waste can act as plasticizer that will retardudand prevent the curing of a cement matrix.udResults from this study indicated that combined treatment technologies such as polymericudresin absorption, ozone purging and UV radiation are necessary in order to successfullyudencapsulate this type of waste into a specialised matrix that will fulfil the waste disposaludrequirements of the Vaalputs waste disposal site. The use of a polymeric absorbent utilisedudas a filter has the possibility of reducing the absorbent costs significantly.