Generation of Radioactive Waste Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal NUCP

Sources of LLW Defense and other national programs Commercial nuclear power Medical research activities Academic research activities Industrial activities 2

Licensees (non-DOE) NRC regulates about 6,700 licensees 37 agreement states have responsibility Agreement states regulate about 15,000 radioactive materials licenses 3

Sources of Disposed LLW ( )* Nuclear reactors -44.0%55% Industrial users -39.9%24% Government sites -13.4%19% Academic users - 2.1% 1% Medical facilities - 0.6% 1% * total volume 858,677 ft3 690,000 ft3 4

Nuclear Reactors

Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors in the United States

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Nuclear Power Reactors Ion exchange resins Filters Concentrated liquids Dry active waste (DAW) Decommissioning wastes BWRs usually generate more LLW than PWRs 8

Ion Exchange Resins Organic beads or granules designed to remove radionuclides from liquids May be either anion or cation resins When exhausted must be regenerated or replaced Regeneration produces chemical waste which must be disposed 9 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Ion Exchange Resins Chemical waste usually concentrated by evaporation and solidified prior to shipment for disposal Spent resins transferred by slurry to shipping containers Must be dewatered prior to shipment Some resins are solidified in cement or a polymer prior to shipment 10 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Ion Exchange Resins Radionuclide concentrations may be high enough to require shielding Must be concerned about radiolytic gas generation Chemical or biological degradation may occur in some resins Need to be careful so that the resin does not become greater than class C waste 11

Filters Cartridge filters – contain disposable elements made of woven or wound fabric, or pleated or matted paper supported on a SS mesh Precoat filters – use filter aids, such as diatomaceous earth, powdered mixtures of cation- and anion-exchange resins, and high purity cellulose fibers 12 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Filters Cartridges are disposed as radioactive waste directly when replaced Precoat filters are removed by back-flushing and disposed of as dewatered but unsolidified waste PWRs typically use cartridge filters whereas BWRs typically use precoat filters 13 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Concentrated Liquids Evaporators are used to reduce volume Concentrated liquids are known as evaporator bottoms Have a high solids content and an average density in the range 1.0 to 1.2 g/cm3 Usually are solidified prior to disposal 14 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Dry Active Waste (DAW) Applied to a wide variety of waste products May be compactable or non-compactable May be combustible or non-combustible Volume varies based on activities at the site Characterization of waste is important to disposal decisions 15 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Dry Active Waste Treatment Compaction Baling Shredding Sectioning Combustion Decontamination 16 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Example Minimization of Low-Level Waste (LLW) at Nuclear Reactor Sites. – Consider a typical example in the United States. 17

Example for Discussion Two-unit pressurized water reactor (1125 MWe). Sorting/segregating dry active waste (DAW). Free release of clean trash. Laundry operations. 18

Motivation Reduce waste generation. Reduce disposal costs. Take advantage of other disposal options. Recycle materials where possible. Make employees aware of important of waste minimization. 19

DAW Collection and Segregation Collected in washable nylon bags. Brought to waste collection areas. Screened according to dose rate. Placed in collection boxes. 20 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Dose Rate Screening If dose rate >2 mR/h, placed in a container for shipping to an off-site facility. If dose rate <2 mR/h, sent to sorting and segregation facility. Contents of these bags are sorted for free release. Contaminated items combined in plastic bags and placed in container with >2 mR/h waste. 21 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Monitoring the <2 mR/h DAW Each bag is opened and the contents monitored at a sorting table. Table contains cm2 gas-flow hand-held proportional counters. Each item monitored individually and clean and contaminated items are separated. Trash is rebagged and routed based on the results. 22 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Monitoring the <2 mR/h DAW Clean trash is monitored again with a large, rotating NaI(TI) detector. Bags passing monitoring are considered clean and disposed. Bags failing this monitoring may be resorted and/or considered contaminated. 23 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Results of Program Monitored a total of 162,235 lbs of waste. Monitored 117,378 lbs of clean trash. Clean trash release rate ~ 89%. Monitored 44,857 lbs of <2 mR/h DAW. DAW free release rate ~ 65%. 24 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Results of Program Cost of program estimated to be about $0.70 per pound of waste monitored. Clean trash savings estimated at $56,300. <2 mR/h DAW savings estimated at $210,800. Total savings over 18-month period $267, Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

On-Site Laundry Operations Waste minimization often produces an increase in launderable goods. Replaced disposal goods with launderable products. Made decision to wash other items that, in the past, might have been disposed. 26 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

On-Site Laundry Operations Concluded cost was about the same as using a commercial operation. Avoids shipping and receiving problems associated with commercial operations. Actual cost less because less anti-C clothing required in inventory. 27

Medical and Academic Institutions 28

Institutions Liquid scintillation counting fluids Organic and inorganic liquids Biological wastes Trash Sealed sources and accelerator targets 29

Institutions (primary isotopes) Typical Radionuclides – 3 H, 14 C, 32 P, 35 S, 51 Cr, 57 Co, 60 Co, 90 Sr, 99 mTc, 125 I and 192 Ir Used in research, diagnostics and treatment Other, short-lived radionuclides are stored for decay before disposal Some radionuclides can be sent down the sanitary sewer ( C-14, H-3) – 0.o5 uCi/ml – Water soluble – 5Ci/yr limit Material that are waste products of patients are excluded from regulation 30

Liquid Scintillation Fluids Often contain flammable organic fluids – a mixed waste (i.e., radioactive and hazardous chemical). May be disposed by incineration. Switch to aqueous-based scintillation fluids – dispose in the sanitary sewer. 31

Biological Wastes Generated by research programs – generally have low specific activity. Consists of animal carcasses, tissues, animal bedding and excreta, vegetation, & culture media. May contain pathogenic or carcinogenic substances. 32

Biological Wastes Care required in packaging because of biodegradation. Material often shipped with absorbent paper and lime. Some facilities use incineration of much of this waste. Off-gas control and economics drive the solution Exceptions for biological waste 33

Trash Differs from that at nuclear power plants. Most is compactable and combustible. Incineration is often the disposal method of choice. Some use of sorting, storage and compaction are also used. 34

Industrial Waste 35

Industrial Industrial applications of radioactive material can be found in almost every industry; – Chemical – Petrochem – Steel mill – Mining – Food production – Paper mills – Hospitals – Coal burning power plants 36

Sources Sources that are used in industry can be anywhere from H-3 to Am-241 mostly Cs-137 and Co-60 Activities range from mCi to 1000s Ci Usually in sealed sources Sources that are too old to make readings are disposed of----- waste Can not reuse because of unknown integrity of capsule

Point Level or Density Gauge rti Beam angle is approximately Source HeadDetector

Continuous Level Gauge rti Source Head Detector Beam angle can vary from around 30 o to better than 45 o. Scatter Field

Government 43

Low-Level Waste Management (DOE) Many activities within the DOE complex similar to those we have already discussed. Largest volume of LLW is managed by the Office of Environmental Restoration (ER). Other waste generated by DOE activities is transferred to the Office of Waste Management. 44 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Low-Level Waste Management (DOE) LLW is segregated into contact-handled and remote-handled waste just as with TRU waste. Some wastes may contain transuranic radionuclides. LLW containing hazardous waste or PCBs is handled separately. DOE manages some NORM and NARM. 45 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Sources of LLW at DOE Sites Process, create, or handle radioactive materials. Chemical conversions or separations. Fabrication of nuclear components. Support activities. Pretreatment of HLW. 46 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Sources of LLW at DOE Sites Environmental restoration activities Facility deactivation Facility decommissioning Facility demolition Treatment and handling of TRU waste Treatment and handling of mixed LLW 47 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

DOE LLW Disposal Current approach is to use shallow-land burial facilities. Disposes LLW at six sites and buried waste is present at eight additional sites. Active sites include Hanford, Idaho Falls, Los Alamos, Nevada, Oak Ridge, and Savannah River. 48 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Low-Level Waste from Nuclear Weapons Production 49 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Low-Level Waste from Nuclear Weapons Production 50 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Low-Level Waste from Nuclear Weapons Production 51 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

DOE LLW Disposal LLW typically stored in metal drums Some LLW stored in metal or plywood boxes Large items wrapped in plastic sheets LLW must be certified prior to disposal LLW with >10 nCi/g may be managed separately 52 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

DOE LLW Disposal LLW is treated prior to disposal to stabilize it Usually conducted on-site Solidification to control liquids or particulates Reduction of volume (incineration or compaction) 53 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

DOE LLW Volume and Radioactivity Process Volume (m3)Activity (Ci) Mining, etc.460,000 (14%) Chemical Sep.570,000 (17%)10 x 10 6 RD & T800,000 (25%)14 x 10 6 Fuel & Target Fab.680,000 (21%)9.2 x 10 6 Nonweapons470,000 (14%)14 x 10 6 Enrichment110,000 (9%)2.8 x 10 6 NNPP 18,000 (1%)1.5 x 10 5 TOTAL3.3 x 10 6 m 3 50 x 10 6 Ci 54 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Radioactive Content of Disposed DOE-LLW Fission products11 x 10 6 Ci(24%) Internal activation6.2 x 10 6 Ci(15%) Tritium15 x 10 6 Ci(33%) Uncategorized13 x 10 6 Ci(29%) 55 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

DOE LLW Divided into two categories Waste from environmental restoration (ER) Waste from non-environmental restoration activities (non-ER) Latter category represents stored waste only 56

DOE LLW 57 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Physical Matrices of LLW – ER Activities 58 Modified from J. Poston, Sr. Lectures

Physical Matrices of LLW – Non-ER Activities 59

Questions