Feasibility study for remediation of alkaline intermediate level radioactive aqueous liquid waste with discarded TBP phase stored at PREFRE Tarapur for ion exchange process

Degraded products of tributyl phosphate (TBP) like dibutyl phosphate (DBP) and monobutyl phosphate (MBP) are formed during reprocessing of spent fuel. To maintain the efficiency of TBP solvent during its repeated use, the degraded products are removed by sodium carbonate washing of the solvent. This radioactive sodium carbonate solution is stored in a separate tank along with the exhausted TBP solvent. The presence of degraded products of TBP and their complexes are creating problem for ion exchange treatment. The present paper deals with detailed study of remediation of the aqueous phase of WTF-1 with exhausted TBP stored in the same tank. For the treatment of the aqueous phase of waste, first the TBP degraded product are required to be removed so that the normal ion exchange treatment method can be adopted. (author)