METHOD OF PROCESSING LIQUID WASTES CONTAINING RADIONUCLIDES Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: radioactive materials disposal. SUBSTANCE: invention can be used in processing of liquid radioactive wastes from nuclear power stations to maximally reduce their volumes and remove radionuclides concentrating them in solid phase, which, upon handling by existing methods, ensures save localization of radioactive materials. Method of invention consists in oxidative treatment of waste through ozonation in presence of oxidation catalyst and/or radionuclide collector. Ozonation is carried out within 30-80 C temperature range at pH of solution 10-13. Resultant radioactive sludge is separated from liquid phase, which is then treated with precipitators to additionally remove radionuclides, after which pH is lowered to 8-9, newly-formed sludge is once more separated, liquid phase is finally purified on selective sorbents, separated sludges and exhausted are hardened, and essentially radionuclide-free solutions are also hardened and then safely stored as chemical waste. Specific consumption of ozone is 3.0-3.5 g per 1 g of chemical oxygen minimum in 1 cu.dm of solution. Sparingly soluble transition metal sulfides, preferentially cobalt sulfide, are used as precipitators. EFFECT: enhanced process efficiency. 3 cl, 3 tbl