Membrane–sorption technology for reprocessing liquid radioactive waste from nuclear reactors

Abstract

The need for developing liquid radioactive waste (LRW) reprocessing technologies oriented on autonomous reprocessing at research and production enterprises that are equipped with nuclear reactors and/or use radionuclides in the research and production activity is substantiated. Membrane–sorption technology of LRW reprocessing is suggested as a universal solution. An installation implementing this technology in the modular version, ensuring its low-cost transportation from one facility to another, is described. The developed modular membrane–sorption installation ensures efficient treatment of radioactively contaminated waters with the decontamination factor of 10³–10⁴, irrespective of the physicochemical forms of the radionuclides (ionic, colloidal, molecular), with obtaining LRW concentrates for the subsequent cementation.