Skip to main content

Membrane technologies for liquid radioactive waste treatment

Czechoslovak Journal of Physics volume 49, pages 979–985 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The paper deals with some problems concerning reduction of radioactivity of liquid low-level nuclear waste streams (LLLW). The membrane processes as ultrafiltration (UF), seeded ultrafiltration (SUF), reverse osmosis (RO) and membrane distillation (MD) were examined. Ultrafiltration enables the removal of particles with molecular weight above cut-off of UF membranes and can be only used as a pre-treatment stage. The improvement of removal is achieved by SUF, employing macromolecular ligands binding radioactive ions. The reduction of radioactivity in LLLW to very low level were achieved with RO membranes. The results of experiments led the authors to the design and construction of UF+2RO pilot plant. The development of membrane distillation improve the selectivity of membrane process in some cases. The possibility of utilisation of waste heat from cooling system of nuclear reactors as a preferable energy source can significantly reduce the cost of operation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. S. K. Sen Gupta, J. A. Slade, W. S. Tulk, Liquid Radwaste Processing with Crossflow Microfiltration and Spiral Wound Reverse Osmosis, AECL-11270, Feb. 1995, Chalk River, Ontario.

  2. S. K. Sen Gupta, L. P. Buckley, S. Rimpelainen, A. Y. Tremblay, Liquid Radwaste Processing with Spiral Wound Reverse Osmosis, in WM ’96 Conference, Tuscon, Arizona 1996, Feb. 25–29.

  3. Advances in Technologies for Treatment of Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Liquid Wastes, Technical Report Series No. 370, IAEA, Vienna 1994.

  4. R. Barnier, S. Caminade, L. Loudenot, M. Maurel, F. Courtois, Ultrafiltration Treatment of Laundry Liquid Wastes from a Nuclear Research Centre, in Conf. on Waste Management, Kyoto (1989).

  5. E. W. Hooper, Sellers R. M., Activity Removal from Liquid Streams by Seeded Ultrafiltration, in Waste Management ’91, Proc. Symp. University of Arizona, Tucson, vol. 1 (1991) 749.

  6. A.G. Chmielewski, M. Harasimowicz, Sep. Sci. Technol. 30 (1995) 1779.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. A. G. Chmielewski, G. Zakrzewska-Trznadel, N. R. Miljevic, A. Van Hook, Sep. Sci. Technol., 30 (1995) 1653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. G. Zakrzewska-Trznadel, A. G. Chmielewski, N. R. Miljevic, J. Membrane Sci., 113 (1996) 337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. G. Chmielewski, G. ZakrzewskaTrznadel, N. Miljevic, W. A. Van Hook, Sep. Sci. Technol. 32 (1997) 527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. A. G. Chmielewski, M. Harasimowicz, G. Zakrzewska-Trznadel, Sep. Sci. Technol., 32 (1997) 709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195, Warsaw, (Poland)

    A. G. Chmielewski, M. Harasimowicz & G. Zakrzewska-Trznadel

Authors
  1. A. G. Chmielewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Harasimowicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Zakrzewska-Trznadel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chmielewski, A.G., Harasimowicz, M. & Zakrzewska-Trznadel, G. Membrane technologies for liquid radioactive waste treatment. Czech J Phys 49 (Suppl 1), 979–985 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10582-999-1027-y

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10582-999-1027-y

Keywords

  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Composite Membrane
  • Membrane Process
  • Membrane Technology
  • Decontamination Factor