Results of exploitation of a pilot-plant installation for bituminization of radioactive sludges

Results are discussed of exploitation of a pilot-plant installation for bituminization of radioactive sludges of an efficiency of 25 l/h. In a time period of 20 month 120 cycles were carried out in which 60 m3 of 2-4% sludges from treatment of low-level waste by the phosphate-ferrocyanide method were solidified. The P-60 asphalt was used for bituminization. The bituminization products contained 5-13.5% of mineral substances. Their activity was in the range 5 x 10-4 - 5 x 10-3 μCi/g for alpha emitters and 1.2 - 3.8 x 10-2 μCi/g for beta emitters. (author)