BARC DEVELOPS NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR WASTE PROCESSING
The Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre has developed new technologies for waste processing
at the Waste Immobilization Plants (WIP). The technologies developed
due to sustained R&D efforts are planned to be used at the
WIPs to enhance the processing capacity.
These include, ion
exchange process for the treatment of Intermediate Level Waste
(ILW) Advanced vitrification system for the treatment of High
Level Waste (HLW) and a demonstration Facility for actinide partitioning.
The removal of actinides from HLW before vitrification leads to
a significant reduction in the long-term hazard potential. The
facility will serve to demonstrate the solvent extraction process
developed for the purpose.
In ion exchange process,
the major radio-nuclide present in the waste is removed using
an indigenously developed ion exchanger. This process also enables
the recovered substance for its use as a radiation source for
medical and industrial applications. The advanced vitrification
system for HLW, is based on the use of "Joule Heated Ceramic Melter
(JHCM) for making glass. Its amenability for continuous operation
leads to higher throughput.
The first waste immobilisation
plant with integrated facility for managing all categories of
liquid waste came up last year at Trombay. Radioactive liquid
waste is generated during reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from
research reactors at BARC. The aim is to manage the waste in a
such way to protect human health and environment.
