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Treatment of Irradiated Graphite to Meet Acceptance Criteria for Waste Disposal
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
T21026CRP
1801Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
24 April 2015Description
The CRP will investigate the Treatment of Irradiated Graphite to Meet Acceptance Criteria for Waste Disposal to facilitate exchange of information and technological experiences on new developments in the area, to identify innovative technologies to be applied for conformity with modern safety and economic requirements. Radioactive graphite constitutes a major waste stream which arises during the decommissioning of certain types of nuclear installations. Worldwide, a total of around 250 000 tonnes of radioactive graphite, comprising graphite moderators and reflectors, will require management solutions in the coming years. The R&D topics are to identify and evaluate, by practical means if possible, handling and treatment technologies which may be of assistance in Member States’ graphite-disposal strategies, complementary to the investigations of CARBOWASTE.
Exchange of information and research co-operation in resolving identical problems between different institutions in Member States will contribute towards improving waste management practices, its efficiency and general safety. The execution of the CRP will promote the exchange of advanced information on the ongoing research and development activities and facilitate access to the practical results of their application for treatment and conditioning of specific graphite waste types.
Objectives
The overall objective of the CRP was to advise Member States of the various options which are being researched, to enable them to make an informed decision on the correct policy for their situation although it was not meant to recommend specific methodologies on a global basis, since very different conditions and constraints apply in different Member States.
Specific objectives
To investigate direct chemical or physical treatment of graphite leading to its disposal in an alternative form to solid graphite, with economic and long term radiological benefits; To investigate the pre-treatment of graphite ahead of other disposal or innovative treatment, usually in order to reduce the radio-isotope content and to facilitate the economics and radiological safety of the following process operations; To research the treatment of the products of innovative process to improve radiological safety or for economic improvement (such as separation and recycling of useful isotopes for the nuclear and/or medical industries).
Impact
Exchange of information and research co-operation in resolving identical problems between different institutions within Member States contributes towards improving waste management practices, their efficiency, and general safety.
The CRP has analysed the ongoing research activities related to management of irradiated graphite waste summarising potential approaches within five generic management schemes. A major outcome of the CRP was recognition that the irradiated graphite is a unique waste form which requires a comprehensive characterisation programme. The various treatments and potential processes under consideration may offer considerable savings in final waste volume, in ultimate disposal costs and (where deemed desirable) in timescale. The execution of the CRP promoted the exchange of advanced information on the on-going research and development activities and facilitates practical results of their application for treatment and conditioning of specific graphite waste types, and the collaboration continues under the IAEA International Decommissioning and Predisposal Networks.
Relevance
Dismantling of old reactors and the management of radioactive graphite waste are becoming an increasingly important issue for a number of IAEA Member States. The IAEA has initiated the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) “Treatment of Irradiated Graphite to meet Acceptance Criteria for Waste Disposal” in 2010, aiming to complement the CARBOWASTE study and to provide a platform for a number of the participants who are common to both projects to continue their studies following the end of CARBOWASTE funding. In addition, the CRP involved other Member States and organisations which were not part of CARBOWASTE – notably research groups from Russia, Ukraine and China.