(325b) Pilot-Scale Testing of an in Tank Process to Remove Radionuclides From Waste Water

The Savannah river Site is developing a new waste treatment process to remove radionuclides from radioactive waste.  The process adds monosodium titanate to a waste tank and mixes the tank with rotating mixer pumps.  The monosodium titanate sorbs strontium and select actinides.  The waste is filtered to remove the monosodium titanate and entrained sludge.  The filtrate is treated with an ion exchange process to remove cesium.  The decontaminated liquid is grouted.  The concentrated radionuclides are eventually vitrified.

The authors conducted pilot-scale testing of the sorption and solids removal parts of the process. The pilot-scale vessel was constructed of acrylic and was nominally eight feet in diameter. The vessel contained two to four rotating mixer pumps. Simulated sludge, monosodium totanate, and crystalline silico titanate were added to the vessel to simulate expected waste tank conditions. The testing determine the pump requirements to mobilize the sludge, monosodium titanate, and crystalline silicotitanate, as well as the contact time needed for the monosodium titanate to sorb the soluble strontium.

The presentation will discuss the testing, the scaling of the test equipment, the test results, and the scaling of the test results.