Conditioning of ion exchange resins
CEMENTATION PROCESS FOR IER CONDITIONING
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Ion exchange resins (IERs) are used by the nuclear industry to decontaminate radioactive effluents. Once used, spent IERs contain radionuclides but also chemical species originally present in the treated waste which make them potentially unstable.
In order to be stored, IERs must be placed in a solid, stable and monolithic state granting a durable containment of radionuclides and meeting the waste acceptance criteria according to their activity level and planned storage.
The cement formulation development enabling to reduce the resin volume and to grant the matrix stability is a real challenge as volume changes may occur in a cementitious matrix in which the pore solution chemistry evolves with the ongoing hydration. Under severe conditions, they can induce cracking and alter the package integrity.
Orano has the hability to develop tailored cement formulations solving resins specific difficulties such as volume reduction and cementitious matrix stability whatever chemical species they may contain.
The chemical interactions between the waste and the cement matrix are carefully studied by Orano’s research teams in order to provide comprehensive solutions by developing cement formulations which are adapted to your waste characteristics.
Our engineering teams also develop suited mixing technologies such as batch mixers, in drum mixing or batch reactor systems. These efficient and simple technologies grant a low rinsing effluent generation while keeping a robust process.
- From laboratory to final process studies and packages qualification (TRL 1 to 8)
- Great homogeneity of the cemented package
- Small amount of secondary waste
- Waste package fully meeting the storage acceptance criteria
For over 30 years, Orano has an extensive knowledge of IER conditioning by cementation process
- Orano as a key player in effluent decontamination processes, designs and uses IER for its own needs,
- Orano conditions IER in cemented packages on ACR facility in La Hague which was designed and is operated by Orano teams;
- Orano has already produced more than 1000 cemented packages of low activity IER,
- Orano is EDF industrial operator conditioning borate and lithium ions IERs
- A simple, robust, flexible and competitive solution for treating low and intermediate level IER
- Safe containment of radionuclides
- Waste stabilization
- Tailored cement formulation for a wide range of IER waste
- Qualification possible in active and inactive environments using pilots at different scales