Waste volume reduction through the use of a lower concentration of chemical decontamination reagent

The purpose of this study is to reduce radioactive waste volume in the chemical decontamination process. First, the relation between the decontamination effect and the decreased concentration of the decontaminated oxidant and reductant was examined. Then, chemical decontamination was performed on a preheater and a sample of the radiation accumulation behavior experimental equipment where cobalt-60 (60Co) accumulates. The effects were noted and the results were as follows: 1. Sufficient oxidation can be produced using a concentration of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) at 0.01 g/l and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 0.004 g/l, in AP-agents. Therefore, the ion-exchange resin used for waste disposal can be greatly reduced. 2. Decontamination was performed with different concentrations of AP-agents on the sample and preheater of the radiation accumulation behavior experimental equipment. It was verified that even using the above concentration of the AP-agent, the same decontamination effect was produced. (author)