Technological Upgrading by Recycling Effluents Generated at a Uranium Metal Production Plant, India

India's uranium production plant has been assigned to produce uranium metal for differing and important domestic requirements. In the plant, diuranates and other oxides are processed through several unit operations to produce uranium metal where three process effluents are generated in tonnage quantities. Among the three effluents, two are nitrate-bearing radioactive wastes (effluents (N)) and another is fluoride-bearing radioactive effluent (effluent (F)). Waste disposal norms and regulations are becoming increasingly more stringent. In response to this stipulation, efforts have been made to develop suitable a methodology for recycling the wastes and also for 'polishing' the generated wastes to make them suitable for disposal. Suitable technologies have been developed for treating and recycling the effluents (N) and reducing waste generation and these have been demonstrated for reuse in the same plant. Developed technology has been utilized to treat the fluoride effluent (F) and the zero discharge principle has been achieved. The developmental study describing treatment and recycling of ammonium nitrate waste generated in the ammonium diuranate precipitation process has been challenging. This presentation will describe the insight gained from these developmental studies and also demonstrate the upgrade of uranium metal production technology in India with respect to waste recycle schemes. (author)