Management of radioactive organic wastes generated during decontamination and decommissioning activities

During the decontamination and decommissioning activities of nuclear installations and facilities, a large amount of organic wastes including EDTA, citric acid, oxalic acid which contain metal ions and radionuclides are generated. These complex compounds present a difficulty for a solidification, a possibility of a gas evolution due to a decomposition of the organic matter and a promotion of an underground migration of radionuclides. The treatment process for organic wastes must have options such as a complete destruction, reduction of the offgas volume and associated contaminants and dioxin, free toxic gas, and a low operating time. So we decided on the MEO (Mediated Electrochemical Oxidation using Ce(IV), Ag(II) as a catalyst) system as an alternative for an incineration process