Abstract
In this work, the possibility of using electrodialysis for the treatment of liquid low-level radioactive waste was investigated. The first aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of the process parameters on the treatment of model solutions with different compositions. Subsequent experimental tests were conducted using solutions containing selected radionuclides (60Co and 137Cs), which are potential contaminants of effluents from nuclear power plants, as well as components often found in waste generated from industrial and medical radioisotope applications. The results of the experiments performed on real radioactive waste confirmed that electrodialysis was a suitable method for the treatment of such effluents because it ensured high levels of desalination and rates of decontamination. The most important parameters impacting the process were the applied voltage and electrical current. Moreover, this research shows that the application of the ED process enables the separation of non-ionic organic contaminants of LLW, which are unfavorable in further stages of waste predisposal.
Highlights
The first experiments were conducted using non-radioactive model solutions that were prepared based on the chemical composition of radioactive liquid waste collected at the RWMP
The possibility of using electrodialysis to treat low-level radioactive liquid waste was explored. Such wastewater may contain various types of organic compounds, so the ED process was performed on model solutions containing organic substances
Further research indicated that the decontamination of model solutions containing radioactive substances using the ED process was very effective, and all other components of the solutions accumulated in the concentrate, leaving the diluate free from impurities
Summary
Radioactive waste differs in terms of form, radioactivity concentration, and type of contamination, depending on its origin It can exist in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state, and the concentration levels of radioactivity can range from very high (e.g., in spent fuel and waste from its reprocessing) to very low (e.g., from the use of radioisotopes in laboratories, hospitals, and other industries) [1]. Low-level radioactive liquid wastes (LLWs) from industrial and medical applications typically contain short-lived radionuclides (i.e., half-life < 30 years) and very rarely contain trace concentrations of long-lived radionuclides. Such wastes may include small amounts of spent acids and bases, analytical solutions, scintillation cocktails, decontamination and cleaning solutions, or waste oils. Because of their potential detriments, such wastes cannot be directly discharged into the environment; they must be processed to reduce their volume and allow for further stabilization that makes them more suitable for long-term disposal
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