Electrokinetic remediation of plutonium-contaminated nuclear site wastes: results from a pilot-scale on-site trial.
J Hazard Mater
; 186(2-3): 1405-14, 2011 Feb 28.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21227583
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the field-scale application of a novel low-energy electrokinetic technique for the remediation of plutonium-contaminated nuclear site soils, using soil wastes from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston site, Berkshire, UK as a test medium. Soils and sediments with varying composition, contaminated with Pu through historical site operations, were electrokinetically treated at laboratory-scale with and without various soil pre-conditioning agents. Results from these bench-scale trials were used to inform a larger on-site remediation trial, using an adapted containment pack with battery power supply. 2.4 m(3) (ca. 4t onnes) of Pu-contaminated soil was treated for 60 days at a power consumption of 33 kWh/m(3), and then destructively sampled. Radiochemical data indicate mobilisation of Pu in the treated soil, and migration (probably as a negatively charged Pu-citrate complex) towards the anodic compartment of the treatment cell. Soil in the cathodic zone of the treatment unit was remediated to a level below free-release disposal thresholds (1.7 Bq/g, or <0.4 Bq/g above background activities). The data show the potential of this method as a low-cost, on-site tool for remediation of radioactively contaminated soils and wastes which can be operated remotely on working sites, with minimal disruption to site infrastructure or operations.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hazardous Waste
/
Radioactive Waste
/
Plutonium
/
Environmental Restoration and Remediation
Language:
En
Journal:
J Hazard Mater
Journal subject:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom