Ecochemical problems and radon-hazard of wastes when recycling uranium feedstock in Ukraine

Abstract

The article presents the modern technology of solution of ecological problem of reduction of radon hazard of wastes from the processing of uranium feedstock at Suhachevsk depository Section II. The main objective of the study is to improve the environmental situation in Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions in Ukraine, adjoined to the depositories of uranium feedstock; and to protect population from the harmful effects of natural sources of ionizing radiation. We have studied the plan of isolation of Sallamyaesk depository of radioactive uranium wastes in Estonia, designed by the German company Wismut and Estonian company Okosil. The disadvantage of the plan is the lack of a theoretical analysis of possible chemical reactions between uranium wastes and intermediate coating. The bases of the proposed technology of isolation of radioactive wastes from the processing of uranium feedstock with industrial wastes were the theoretical studies of possible chemical reactions between elements of the processing of uranium feedstock and the elements of industrial wastes in the natural environment, as well as the calculations of radon permeability of industrial wastes with a specified thickness and diffusion coefficient. The presented results of the conservative calculation of the diffusion of free radon in industrial wastes, taking into account their thickness and radon permeability, provide a complete screening of the Suhachevsk» depository Section II. They can be used in similar plans of isolation of depositories from the processing of uranium feedstock