Development of radioactive waste treatment techniques

Liquid and solid radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants are packaged in drums and are tentatively stored on site, since the final disposal method has not yet been decided in Japan. The gradually increasing amount of waste has resulted in extensive efforts to treat waste to minimize the final volume. Hitachi has been developing waste treatment techniques from the viewpoint of minimizing the waste generation and solidifying the waste into a stable form. Emphasis has been placed on a flexible treatment system which will be adaptable to whatever final disposal method is decided. This paper focuses on two new systems: 1) a centralized system which dries and pelletizes all the waste for volume reduction, and 2) a cement glass solidification system which solidifies the waste into a stable package. (author)