Liquid radioactive waste characterization for evaporation process

Liquid radioactive waste (LRW) of G.A. Siwabessy Multipurpose Reactor was routine transported to Center for Radioactive Waste Technology (CRWT). This waste is treated by evaporation process. Characterization must be done to guarantee LRW compatibility as evaporator feeding waste to cover chemical and radiochemical analysis, and to measure many physical chemistry parameter during treatment process. Radiochemical parameter such as radioactivity level, radionuclide contained in LRW and C-14, H-3 concentration. Chemical parameter is cation-anion concentration such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, NH₄⁺, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, NO₃^-, NO₂^-, dan Cl^-. Physical chemistry parameter such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and dry extract content. Laboratory scale of evaporation so must be done to get waste condition during process especially the possibility of foam generation which can caused distillate contamination or explosive reaction at the boiling temperature of LRW. Some case should be concern from characterization in first quarterly of 2015 that's LRW in R2201C and R2201D tanks are according to characteristic as evaporator feeding waste. LRW R2201A (50 m³) neutralization need 85 litre caustic soda in installation. Chloride concentration in LRW R2201B 417 mg/L, more than limit of evaporator feeding waste 100 mg/L and form Al(OH)₃ precipitate when neutralization which become the obstacle for evaporation process so need the alternative process such ionic exchange. (author)