Status of technology for volume reduction and treatment of low and intermediate level solid radioactive waste

Once waste is produced it is important to reduce its volume to save conditioning, transport, storage and disposal costs. This is especially important for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes which are being disposed of in near surface repositories, because of the rather strict dependence of disposal costs on the volume of the disposed waste. This report deals with methods and techniques for the treatment of low and intermediate level radioactive solid wastes generated in the operation and maintenance of nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel cycle facilities, and resulting from the use of radioisotopes in medicine, research, industry and other fields. Basic treatment concepts are directed either towards waste volume reduction, removal of radionuclides or change of waste composition. The ultimate treatment objective is to facilitate waste conversion (either direct or gradual) into a stable solid form that meets the acceptance criterial for disposal, characterized by low mobility of the radionuclides and minimal potential for physical or chemical changes. While all concepts are addressed in this report, the primary focus is on processes that result in a reduction of waste volume. 154 refs, 42 figs, 7 tabs