Treatment and Conditioning of Spent Ion Exchange Resin from Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

There are a number of liquid processes and waste streams at nuclear facilities (i.e. nuclear power plants, fuel reprocessing plants, nuclear research centers, etc.) that require treatment for process chemistry control reasons and/or the removal of radioactive contaminants. These processes may be for reactor primary coolants, the cleanup of spent fuel pools, liquid radioactive waste management systems, etc. One of the most common treatment methods for such aqueous streams is the use of ion exchange, which is a well developed technique that has been employed for many years in both the nuclear industry and in other industries. Nuclear power plant process water systems have typically used organic ion exchange resins to control system chemistry to minimize corrosion or the degradation of system components and to remove radioactive contaminants. Organic resins are also used in a number of chemical decontamination or cleaning processes for the regeneration of process water by reagents and for radionuclide removal. In this report we will describe the method to solidify this waste by cementization techniques methods. There are several techniques are available for treating and conditioning of ion exchange resins. One of such technique uses a matrix material, which can be used in the conditioning process. There is wide rang of potential materials available for the conditioning of low and intermediate level liquid wastes and at the end we will mechanically (compression strength) testify these cubes of different cement and resin composition, according to IAEA standards.