BASIC PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE Module XIX Waste management Case Studies Version 1.0, May 2015 This material was prepared by the IAEA and co-funded by the European Union. 

IAEA Waste classification system Description Class of radioactive waste Waste with levels of activity concentration slightly above the levels specified for the clearance, waste containing naturally occurring radionuclides, originating from the mining or processing of ores and minerals.   Contains such small concentrations of radionuclides that it does not require provisions for radiation protection. Waste that requires shielding but needs little or no provision for heat dissipation. Contains such large concentrations of both short and long lived radionuclides and a greater degree of containment and isolation from the accessible environment is needed to ensure long term safety. Contains only radionuclides of very short half-life with activity concentrations above the clearance levels, can be stored until the activity has fallen beneath the levels for clearance. Waste that contains long lived radionuclides in quantities that need a greater degree of containment and isolation from the biosphere than is provided by near surface disposal. Fill the table with next 6 classes of radioactive waste: Exempt waste (EW), Very short lived waste (VSLW), Very low level waste (VLLW), Low level waste (LLW), Intermediate level waste (ILW), High level waste (HLW). Waste with levels of activity concentration slightly above the levels specified for the clearance, waste containing naturally occurring radionuclides, originating from the mining or processing of ores and minerals - very low level waste. Contains such small concentrations of radionuclides that it does not require provisions for radiation protection - exempt waste. Waste that requires shielding but needs little or no provision for heat dissipation - low level waste. Contains such large concentrations of both short and long lived radionuclides and a greater degree of containment and isolation from the accessible environment is needed to ensure long term safety - high level waste. Contains only radionuclides of very short half-life with activity concentrations above the clearance levels, can be stored until the activity has fallen beneath the levels for clearance - very short lived waste. Waste that contains long lived radionuclides in quantities that need a greater degree of containment and isolation from the biosphere than is provided by near surface disposal - intermediate level waste.

Different waste classification systems Three different waste classification systems are described in the table. Determine in which countries each waste classification system is used: Majority of countries, Germany, USA. Description of waste classification Country Categorisation system which is basically subdivided into: Heat-generating radioactive waste and Radioactive waste with negligible heat generation.   IAEA classification of 6 classes. Wastes are separated broadly into high-level or low-level waste. Classification of low level radioactive waste: Class A, Class B, Class C and waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal. Description of waste classification - Country Categorisation system which is basically subdivided into: Heat-generating radioactive waste and Radioactive waste with negligible heat generation. - Germany. IAEA classification of 6 classes. - Majority of countries Wastes are separated broadly into high-level or low-level waste. Classification of low level radioactive waste: Class A, Class B, Class C and waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal. – USA.

Nature and sources of radioactive waste Characteristics of different waste are given in the table. Fill the table and determine characteristics of: waste from mining and minerals processing, waste from nuclear power plants, waste from research reactors, waste from industrial use of radioisotopes. Characteristics Waste Relatively large amounts of materials that contain uranium or thorium in small quantities.   Volume of radioactive waste generated from these activities is small but the levels of activity concentration may be significant, usually contain large and highly concentrated amount of single radionuclide. Owing to its level of activity concentration and to the half-lives of the radionuclides, it does not meet the waste acceptance criteria of near surface disposal facilities. Contains significant amounts of fissile materials, other actinides and fission products. It generates significant heat when freshly removed from the reactor. Characteristics - waste Relatively large amounts of materials that contain uranium or thorium in small quantities - waste from mining and minerals processing Volume of radioactive waste generated from these activities is small but the levels of activity concentration may be significant, usually contain large and highly concentrated amount of single radionuclide - waste from industrial use of radioisotopes Owing to its level of activity concentration and to the half-lives of the radionuclides, it does not meet the waste acceptance criteria of near surface disposal facilities - waste from research reactors Contains significant amounts of fissile materials, other actinides and fission products. It generates significant heat when freshly removed from the reactor - waste from nuclear power plants

Waste treatment techniques For which radioactive waste next waste treatment techniques are used: dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste. Waste treatment techniques Dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste Segmentation   Polymer fixation Osmosis or reverse osmosis Bituminisation Ion Exchange Compaction Incineration Evaporation Vitrification Cementation Waste treatment techniques: Dry solid, wet solid or liquid radioactive waste Segmentation - dry solid Polymer fixation - wet solid Osmosis or reverse osmosis - liquid Bituminisation - wet solid Ion Exchange - liquid Compaction - dry solid Incineration - dry solid Evaporation - liquid Vitrification - dry solid Cementation - wet solid

Disposal facilities Different disposal facilities are given in the table below. Determine in which disposal facility are disposed: high-level and long-lived radioactive waste, very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) with low concentrations or quantities of radioactive content, LLW and short-lived ILW. Disposal facility Type of radioactive waste Near-surface disposal facility   Deep geological disposal facility Specific landfill disposal facility Disposal facility - Type of radioactive waste Near-surface disposal facilities - LLW and short-lived ILW Deep geological disposal facility - high-level and long-lived radioactive waste Specific landfill disposal facility - very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) with low concentrations or quantities of radioactive content The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.