Innovative Canadian Solutions for Management of Challenging Radioactive and Mixed Wastes

Abstract

Mixed Waste (MW) drums from Canadian nuclear facilities containing tritium and other (alpha as well beta-gamma emitting) radionuclides were, historically, shipped to a licensed US facility for destruction via incineration. The challenges and complexities associated with this approach include the logistics of cross-border shipments and destruction costs (e.g., tritium surcharge). In addition, commercial waste destruction facilities in the US cannot accept PCB wastes from non-US jurisdictions. There has also been a number of legacy mixed wastes (solids, liquids, and sludges) from operational, maintenance and decommissioning activities at Canadian nuclear facilities that were initially deemed challenging, or no- path forward/ orphaned. Federally mandated deadlines for the management of PCB wastes from nuclear facilities in Canada present another challenge to the industry and highlight the need to rapidly deploy innovative technologies developed by Kinectrics to destroy PCBs in radioactive waste, i.e., mixed wastes. Existing immobilization technologies employed at Canadian facilities for mixed waste (e.g., solidification with commercial super absorbent polymers) result in significant volume increases. This problem becomes particularly challenging due to limited options available for storage and final disposal of such waste. The objective of this paper is to shine a spotlight on Kinectrics’ innovative technologies that have been successful in addressing all the above-mentioned challenges. Specific project case studies that are discussed include the following:

• Universal Separation Process (USEP)- An innovative process for removal of all radioactivity in mixed wastes to below unconditional clearance/free release levels.
• Novel technologies for the management of solid as well as liquid Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) mixed wastes.
• Synergistic Solidification Process (SYNERSOL) – A unique waste immobilization process that results in waste forms with minimal volume increase and robust waste form properties.
• Large-scale processing of mixed wastes