Membrane‐Based Techniques for Nuclear Waste Processing

Abstract

Membrane methods can be considered as the most energy‐saving separation techniques. Separation abilities of membranes allow the elimination of many noneffective and energy‐consuming methods and their replacement by new, modern technologies that are environment friendly. Application of membrane methods for the treatment of liquid radioactive wastes (LRWs) requires solving many problems connected with the proper selection of the membranes, membrane modules, and other equipment according to local conditions: chemical and radiochemical composition of the effluents treated, their activity, and total salinity. For the past few years, membrane‐based processing of a nuclear plant's radioactive wastes, radioactive liquids in general, is rapidly gaining acceptance within the nuclear industry. Installations working in the nuclear industry have to fulfill very stringent requirements. They ought to be reliable, and constructed from special materials defined by separate regulations. This article focuses on existing information on the application of membrane technology in the nuclear industry and covers recent advances, particularly in the field of LRW processing on pilot and plant scales.