The evolution of plant for the processing and encapsulation of spent ion exchange resins and pond sludges

Since the inception of the nuclear power industry some 30 years ago, various types of radioactive waste have been accumulating at power station sites and in fuel reprocessing plants. A large part of these wastes is formed from fuel element cooling pond chemistry and reactor circuit chemistry. The fuel element cooling pond chemistry gives rise to spent ion exchange resins and sludges of various types and the principal reactor circuit chemistry is that associated with evaporator wastes, i.e. boric acid sludges. A history is given of the evolution of specific plant to deal with these wastes. (author)