Testing of a benchscale reverse osmosis system for treatment of liquid radioactive wastes

The membrane filtration treatment techniques (like: microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis) concern a wide range of radwastes that includes certain solutions which usually are posing serious problems during treatment operations. A relevant example is given by the wastes issued from the decontamination operations which contain large quantities of detergents and complexing agents and even a little amount of oils. We performed some experiments on semipermeable membranes using two simulated waste solutions: secondary waste from the decontamination process with POD (Permanganate Oxidation Decontamination) solution and secondary waste from decontamination with modified CAN-DECON (Canadian Decontamination) solution. The experimental tests were performed by using cellulose acetate (CA) membranes and polysulfone (PSF) membranes produced at the Research Centre for Macromolecular Materials and Membranes, Bucharest. The paper presents the results of several experiments carried out on a laboratory scale device which was entirely designed and manufactured at the Institute for Nuclear Research (INR)