Development of combined process with several sorbent for low-level liquid radioactive waste treatment

In order to develop a process for treatment of low level radioactive waste coming from pressurized light water reactor (PWR), a new combined process with pretreatment filters and adsorbent beds using inorganic and organic sorbents/exchanger was designed and manufactured based on a series of experiments. To examine adsorption capacity and characteristics for several sorbents and to propose the optimal combination of filters and beds, laboratory scale batch tests were performed considering the effect of the content of Na ion, removal capability for Co and Cs, etc.. The pilot equipment up to 500 L/hr flow rate was tested to get technical data and to assess the performance of the proposed process. Finally, the demonstration equipment, which was designed and manufactured on the basis of results from the laboratory and pilot test, was operated to demonstrate the treatability of liquid waste using real radioactive waste in the floor drain tank located at the M-1 area of the auxiliary building in the Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2. (author)