Radioactive waste management
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Date
1975-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
Present and future methods of managing radioactive wastes in the nuclear industry are reviewed. In the stages from uranium mining to fuel fabrication, the main purpose of waste management is to limit and control dispersal into the environment of uranium and its decay products, particularly radium and radon. Nuclear reactors produce large amounts of radioactivity but release rates from commercial power reactors have been low and well within legal limits. The principal waste from reprocessing is a high activity liquid containing essentially all the fission products along with the transuranium elements. Most high activity wastes are currently stored as liquids in tanks but there is agreement that future wastes must be converted into solids. Processes to solidify wastes have been demonstrated in pilot plant facilities in the United States and Europe. After solidification, wastes may be stored for some time in man-made structures at or near the Earth's surface. The best method for ultimate disposal appears to be placing solid wastes in a suitable geological formation on land.
Description
Keywords
Liquid wastes, Nuclear industry, Uranium ores, Solidification, Radioactive waste disposal, Milling
Citation
Alfredson, P., & Levins, D. (1975). Radioactive waste management (AAEC-IP-3). Lucas Heights, N.S.W.: Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission.