Method of volume-reducing ion exchange resin wastes

Purpose: To safely and economically process spent ion exchange resins or the likes discharged from radioisotope handling facilities. Method: Ion exchanger resin wastes are previously heated to high temperature in directly and moderately for carbonization by radiation heat such as of infrared rays or laser beams in an atmosphere capable of controlling oxygen amount, or further burnt to ashes in an atmosphere with a controlled amount of oxygen. Since heat energy is supplied not by way of heat mediums in a contactless manner to ion exchange resin wastes as an object to be treated, there is no problem that heating medium is decontaminated by the transfer of radioactivity possessed in the object. Furthermore, since this is a continuous operation system capable of automatic remote control, processing speed or the like can be varied, for example, by adjusting the batch charge amount of the solids to be treated and, accordingly, flexible treating operation is enabled. (Yoshihara, H.)