Globule formation of a clay mineral and a rapid method for the treatment of liquid radioactive waste

Abstract

Summary A technique has been proposed for the grain formation of a naturally available clay mineral (inorganic sorbent). The clay mineral was processed to form the globules to ease the decontamination of low and intermediate levels of liquid radioactive wastes. The purpose of this study is to develop a new form of inorganic sorbing material in the form of beads for the treatment of liquid radioactive waste originating from different types of nuclear installations. This material in the form of spherical beads can also be used for the immobilization of secondary waste that results as a byproduct from processing of nuclear wastes. As it is a major radiotoxic nuclide present in the nuclear wastes, the sorption of cesium from the low level liquid radioactive waste has been described. The potential utilization of this porous clay as an inexpensive material for the final disposal of radioactive wastes has been suggested.