METHOD OF RECYCLING RADIOACTIVE WASTES OF HEAT-INSULATING MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G21F9/00 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to method of recycling radioactive wastes, in particular porous-fibrous heat-insulating materials (HIM), formed in the process of exploitation of objects of nuclear power and industry. Claimed method includes cold pressing of wastes into briquettes, followed by the process of high-temperature processing in electric furnace of chamber type to heat pressed wastes to temperature 1050-1150°C with the further exposure for not less than 1 hour at the same temperature. After that formed glass-like material is cooled at the environment temperature.

EFFECT: reduction of carryover of cezium-137 in gaseous phase from 9-20% to 1-2%; simplification of technology of HIM recycling due to elimination of technological operations of drying, crushing, addition of reagents and thorough mixture mixing before thermal processing, possibility to apply simple, available, less metal-consuming and costing technological equipment, which does not require highly qualified personnel for servicing, at least 4-fold reduction of energy consumption for HIM processing; elimination of formation of additional secondary solid radioactive wastes.

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