Liquid Radioactive Solidification Technologies

Abstract

This review provides a brief analysis of familiar and tested technologies of liquid radioactive waste solidification. The technologies of bituminization, vitrification and incorporation of radioactive waste into the polymer matrix are considered. The paper presents the efficiency indices of the conventional cementation technology and sets forth the results of calculating the cost of components for cementing liquid radioactive waste of various concentrations. Besides, there are results of calculating the volumetric characteristics of cement stone for water-cement relations used for cementing liquid radioactive waste. The review includes the results based on the development and implementation of solidification technologies for liquid radioactive waste using contact-hardening binders that form a durable waterproof stone at the time of pressing and do not require additional water for curing. Generated compounds for immobilization of liquid radioactive waste from nuclear power plants are tested to identify their strength characteristics, resistance to irradiation and leaching parameters. The paper covers the calculation of the cost of components for the solidification of liquid radioactive waste of various concentrations. The developed technology of liquid radioactive waste solidification allows obtaining compounds with strength up to 40 MPa. The volume of the final product is increased by 1.8 times, and the leaching rate is in the range of 1.10×10–4…9.5×10–5 kg/m2 per day.