Disposal and decontamination of radioactive polyvinyl alcohol products

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for decontaminating disposable protective products prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), used in a nuclear power plant, to less than minimum detectable activity (MDA) are disclosed. In the disclosed methods and apparatus, solid protective products made of PVA, generated from a nuclear power plant, are dissolved into a liquid, and then are decontaminated to less than MDA. The PVA solution decontaminated in this way is concentrated to an appropriate concentration or dried, and finally is subjected to self-disposal. This can fundamentally block the generation amount of combustible waste amounting to 50% or more of low and intermediate level waste of nuclear power plants, thereby considerably contributing to a reduction of the operating expenses of the nuclear power plants. The present invention further relates to methods and apparatus for self-disposing disposable protective products manufactured by conventional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) through pyrolysis / catalytic oxidation of a PVA solution generated by concentration, and treating the decontaminated PVA solution within a plant. The PVA protective products are dissolved / concentrated / oxidized in water to remove firstly organic matter, and then PVA materials in the PVA solution are completely oxidized into CO2 and H2O by using a small-sized pyrolysis / catalytic oxidation reactor.

Description

[0001] This application is filed as a PCT International Patent Application claiming priority to: (i) Filed on November 17, 2009 and entitled "DISPOSITION METHOD AND ITS PROCESS FOR PROTECTIVE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (Disposal of Protective Products Manufactured by Polyvinyl Alcohol and (ii) filed on March 5, 2010 and entitled "TREATMENT METHOD AND ITS PROCESS FOR PROTECTIVE PRODUCT MANUFACTURED BY POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (manufacturing of polyvinyl alcohol Protective product processing method and its process)” Korean Patent Application Serial No. 10-2010-0020017. technical field [0002] The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for disposing of contaminated disposable products formed from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and in particular to methods and apparatus for use in the nuclear industry. Background technique [0003] Since the scheduled date for the operation of the Kyung-jun low- and medium-level radioactive waste repository was postpone...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The treatment method of this patent includes additional technical features required for supplementation, because incineration of PVA solutions at high temperatures of 1000 ° C or higher produces a large amount of nitrogen oxides, the use of auxiliary fuel for two-stage combustion increases operating costs, and, due to Unburned reaction, burning of liquids containing high concentrations of PVA material in the use of plasma generators can produce soot

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