Decontamination of Liquid Radioactive Wastes Using Clay Minerals

Abstract

The rapid increase in the use of nuclear energy and radioisotopes has necessitated the development of effective and economic methods for the decontamination of radioactive wastes. In this study, the decontamination of low-level radioactive wastes containing 137 Cs radioisotope were investigated by using clay minerals. The clay samples used as activity absorber materials were obtained from the clay deposits in the various regions of Turkey (Adana, Konya, Diyarbakır).The columns input and output concentrations were determined with radiometric methods by using a gamma () spectrometer. According to the results of this investigation, "smectite" type Turkey clays were found to be suitable for the decontamination of radioactive wastes containing radioactive cesium.