Low-activity-level process wastewaters: Treatment by chemical precipitation and ion exchange

Potential improvements to chemical precipitation and ion-exchange wastewater treatment methods intended to reduce low-level radioactive waste generation were studied. The results of laboratory pilot and full scale screening tests are reported, which include the more promising process flowsheets, relative operating costs, and plant scale waste generation estimates. Results show that selected improvements made at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) treatment facility for decontamination of slightly radioactive process wastewater have reduced the liquid waste volume by 66%. The total waste generation (liquid and solid) has been reduced by 33%. Data demonstrates that other processing improvements could lead to even further waste reductions.