Radioactive waste treatment with cesium selective materials

EPRI`s {open_quotes}Advanced Radwaste Media Test Program{close_quotes} is directed at identifying promising new materials for the processing of liquid radwaste. The use of selective ion exchange resins and absorbent materials provides utilities an opportunity to improve their radwaste system performance (decontamination factor) and reduce the overall processing cost. These materials have higher selectivity for the major radioisotopes of interest. Their use can improve the efficiency of the process by reducing both the amount of activity being discharged and the cost for disposal of the spent. A wide range of advanced ion exchange resins and absorbing materials have been identified for radwaste liquid discharge applications. A test system has been developed to mimic the plant`s radwaste demineralizer system. The test apparatus allows the plant staff to evaluate new materials in a variety of arrangements directly on the actual radwaste stream. The intent is to provide the staff with meaningful data and insights on an accelerated basis not presently available. The use of the test system allows plant personnel to optimize the performance of the liquid waste system with respect to materials, operating cost and radioactivity being discharged. IVO`s CsTreat has been identified as a leading candidate for the processing of nuclear plantmore » liquid wastes. The material possesses an exceptionally high decontamination factor for cesium in the presence of high concentrations of common soluble cations. Presently, three plants are either testing or plan to test this material`s effectiveness for processing of their specific plant waste.« less