METHOD FOR REDUCING VOLUME OF A RADIOACTIVE COMPOSITION

• Main Authors: NAGEL, CHRISTOPHER, J, HANEY, WILLIAM, M., III, BACH, ROBERT, D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.05.1993
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; METALLURGY; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR PHYSICS; PHYSICS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS; PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULARRADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

A method is disclosed for reducing the volume of a radioactive composition by separating a radioactive first component from a second component of the radioactive composition. The method includes directing the radioactive composition into a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes a molten bath, wherein oxidation of a component of the radioactive composition in the molten bath will cause separation of the radioactive first component from the second component. An oxidizing agent is directed into the molten bath, which oxidizes a component of the radioactive composition, whereby the radioactive first component is separated from the second component. The net volume of the radioactive composition is thereby reduced. On décrit un procédé permettant de réduire le volume d'une composition radioactive, et qui consiste à séparer un premier constituant radioactif et un second constituant de la composition radioactive. Le procédé consiste à diriger cette dernière dans une zone de réaction. Celle-ci comprend un bain de fusion, l'oxydation d'un constituant de la composition radioactive dans ce bain de fusion produisant la séparation du premier constituant radioactif et du second constituant. Un agent d'oxydation est dirigé dans le bain de fusion et oxyde un constituant de la composition radioactive, ce qui entraîne la séparation des deux constituants. Le volume net de la composition radioactive est ainsi réduit.