Treatment of stored radioactive liquid organic waste at NECSA prior to disposal
Date
2011-07-07
Authors
Topkin, James Lamont
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Abstract
Liquid radioactive waste containing small quantities of organic compounds are stored in
high density polyethylene (HDPE) drums at the South Africa Nuclear Energy Corporation
(Necsa). These wastes were not encapsulated into cement like other waste streams due to
the possibility that the organic compounds in the waste can act as plasticizer that will retard
and prevent the curing of a cement matrix.
Results from this study indicated that combined treatment technologies such as polymeric
resin absorption, ozone purging and UV radiation are necessary in order to successfully
encapsulate this type of waste into a specialised matrix that will fulfil the waste disposal
requirements of the Vaalputs waste disposal site. The use of a polymeric absorbent utilised
as a filter has the possibility of reducing the absorbent costs significantly.