Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management

Transcription

1 Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management

2 NATO Science Series A Series presenting the results of activities sponsored by the NA TO Science Committee. The Series is published by los Press and, in conjunction with the NA TO Scientific Affairs Division. General SutrSeries A. Life Sciences B. Physics C. Mathematical and Physical Sciences D. Behavioural and Social Sciences E. Applied Sciences F. Computer and Systems Sciences los Press los Press Partnership SutrSeries 1. Disarmament Technologies 2. Environmental Security 3. High Technology 4. SCience and Technology Policy 5. Computer Networking los Press los Press The Partnership SutrSeries incorporates activities undertaken in collaboration with NATO's Partners in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council- countries of the CIS and Central and Eastern Europe - in Priority Areas of concern to those countries. NATO-PCO-DATA BASE The NATO Science Series continues the series of books published formerly in the NATO ASI Series. An electronic index to the NATO ASI Series provides full bibliographical references (with keywords and/or abstracts) to more than contributions from international scientists published in all sections of the NATO ASI Series. Access to the NATO-PCO-DATA BASE is possible via CD-ROM "NATO-PCO-DATA BASE" with user-friendly retrieval software in English, French and German ( WTV GmbH and DATAWARE Technologies Inc. 1989). The CD-ROM of the NATO ASI Series can be ordered from: PCO, Overijse, Belgium. Series 2: Environmental Security - Vol. 53

3 Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management Applications, Problems, and Research Needs edited by Gregory R. Choppin Department of Chemistry and Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A. and Mikhail Kh. Khankhasayev Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia, and Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A. Springer Science+Business Media, B.V.

4 Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management: Applications, Problems and Research Needs Dubna, Russia May 18-28, 1998 A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Printed an acid-free paper AII Rights Reserved 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by in 1999 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1999 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record ing or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyrig:lt owner.

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface... vii Opening Session... ix Vladimir G. Kadyshevsky Boris F. Myasoedov Roy C. Herndon Chapter I. Nuclear Separation Methods and Technologies: Overview of Chemical Separation Methods and Technologies G.R. Choppin Review of Historical Development and Application of Separation Technologies in Russia v.n. Romanovsky Reprocessing of Nuclear Fuel: Overview/Critique of the Worldwide Experience and Engineering/Technology Challenges for Separations R.G. Wymer Chapter II. Nuclear Separation Methods and Technologies: ? Technology Needs for Actinide and Technetium Separations Based on Solvent Extraction, Ion Exchange and Other Processes G.D. Jarvinen Review of Non-Aqueous Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Separation Methods. (View on World Experience from Dimitrovgrad) A. V. Bychlwv and 0. V. Skiba Review of Possible Technologies for Actinide Separation Using Other Extractants than TBP C. Musikas Studies of the Chemistry of Transactinides by Fast Separation Techniques I. Zvara Chapter III. Technology Needs for Nuclear Waste Processing New Extraction Technologies for Management of Radioactive Wastes V.V. Babain and A. Yu. Shadrin

6 vi Application of New Inorganic-Organic Composite Absorbers with Polyacrylonitrile Binding Matrix for Separation of Radionuclides from Liquid Radioactive Wastes J John, F. Sebesta and A. Motl R&D Needs of Chemical Separation Technologies for Nuclear Wastes from the Perspective of Federal Governmental Programs of Russia M Khankhasayev and A. V. Komarov Nuclear Waste Management: A Bioremediation Approach H Eccles Chapter IV. Nuclear Wastes and Environment Up-to-date Radioecological Situation around the "Mayak" Nuclear Facility B.F. Myasoedov and E.G. Drozhko The Environmental Impacts ofuraniurn Mining and Milling and the Methods of their Reduction P. Benes Role of Hurnics in Actinide Behavior in Ecosystems G.R. Choppin ChapterV. Risk Assessment and Safety Issues Risk Assessment for Chemicals & Radionuclides: Some Characteristics, Similarities and Differences 0 em Tea! The View from Russia of the Soviet-Designed Reactor Safety Program of the U.S. Department of Energy 0 DoW Wester Glossary List of Abbreviations Index

7 PREFACE The NATO sponsored Advanced Study Institute (ASI) "Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management: Applications, Problems and Research Needs" was held at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russia from May 18 th to 28 th, This was the first NATO ASI on chemical separation technologies conducted in Russia, and also the first ASI conducted at JINR in Dubna. The major topic of the ASI was chemical separation technologies in nuclear waste management. These separation technologies are of critical importance if the goal of significantly reducing the volume of high-level nuclear waste and thereby reducing the longterm health risks to humans is to be achieved. There is an urgent need to enlist and train scientists and engineers in the solution of these serious and pressing nuclear waste management problems. One of the principal goals of this ASI was to introduce the participants to research in this field and to provide opportunities for them to become involved in cooperative research projects. International cooperation, including the sharing of concepts and methods as well as technology transfer, is essential in accelerating research and development in this field. The ASI was organized and conducted by Florida State University (Tallahassee, Florida, USA) and by JINR. The location chosen for the ASI venue contributed significantly to its success by increasing the opportunities for attendance by participants from Russia, Central and Eastern European countries, Greece and Turkey. Supplementary funds provided by the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation made it possible to increase the number of ASI participants from Russia. Supplementary travel funds were also provided by the US National Science Foundation, the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey, the General Secretariat of Research and Technology of the Ministry of Development of Greece, and the National Council of Science and Technology of Portugal. We would like express our deep thanks to these agencies. The 80 ASI participants represented 14 countries, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine. United Kingdom, and USA. The ASI gave young scientists and engineers from universities, research institutions, and national research centers that are (or were) closely related to the defense industry an opportunity to have in-depth discussions with their colleagues from other countries on issues of mutual interest in the areas of chemical separations and nuclear waste management. The participants were able to create professional and personal links which will help them to cooperate more effectively on solving pressing environmental issues caused by the operation of nuclear power plants and the residual problems of defense industry installations. The ASI also helped to promote significantly the development of the nondefense related nuclear based industry in Russia. The lecturers of the ASI were internationally recognized experts in the field of separation technologies who were well qualified to assess and critique the current state of vii

8 viii separation research as well as to identify future opportunities for the application of separation technologies to the solution of nuclear waste management problems. The ASI case studies and site tours that were integrated into the classroom activities and the follow-up discussions helped to illustrate the lecture material and to give a practical perspective to the ASI. We express special thanks to the staff of the Moscow Scientific and Industrial Association "Radon" and the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research for conducting site tours and practical demonstrations of the lecture material. The course material was also supplemented by seminars and by intensive work of the four discussion groups which were guided by the ASI lecturers. The goal of these working groups was to discuss research opportunities in the utilization of innovative and potentially more efficient and cost effective processes for waste processing/treatment, actinide speciation/separation methods, technological processing, and environmental restoration. These guided discussion sessions greatly enhanced the process of creating professional contacts among the ASI participants, including both lecturers and students. We thank the members of the Organizing Committee, the ASI lecturers and chair persons for their help and guidance in developing and implementing the ASI curriculum. We also express our thanks to the staff of the Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research at Florida State University for their support and help in organizing and conducting this ASI. We are especially grateful to our friend and colleague Professor Hans Plendl for his support and,help. We would like to thank the JINR Working Group members Valentina Novikova, Galina Sandukovskaya, Larissa Korneychuk, Vladislav Babchik, and Irina Ivanova for their dedicated work. We are deeply grateful to the staff of the Bogolubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics for their support and for hosting the ASI in their building. We also express our appreciation to all members of the JINR International Department staff who helped to conduct this workshop. We express our sincere appreciation to those individuals who reviewed the various chapters of this book. We wish to acknowledge the NATO Advisory Panel on the Priority Area of Environmental Security and Dr. Luis Veiga da Cunha for their guidance and assistance concerning the organization, format and focus of the Advanced Study Institute. NATO ASI Co-Directors Gregory R. Choppin Florida State University Mikhail Khankhasayev Joint Institute/or Nuclear Research

9 Welcoming addresses at the opening of the NATO ASI on Chemical Separation Technologies and Related Methods of Nuclear Waste Management: Applications, Problems and Research Needs Vladimir G. Kadyshevsky Director of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna Dear Colleagues, it is my privilege to welcome you on behalf of the staff of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. We recognize the importance of the topic of this Advanced Study Institute and we wish you success for the realization of its the goals.let me introduce briefly the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). We are now 42 years old. After the end of World War II the world came to realize that nuclear science should not be confined to secret laboratories and that only wide international co-operation could insure progress in this fundamental realm of human knowledge and in the peaceful utilization of atomic energy. As a result, CERN at Geneva and JINR at Dubna were founded practically simultaneously. These centres have much in common, and it is significant that they started collaborating very soon after their founding through joint experiments, publications, conferences, and schools for young scientists. Remaining in close contact with each other even in the most gloomy years of the Cold War, scientists from JINR and CERN performed a noble mission promoting mutual understanding among people from dozens of countries. I would like here to recall the saying of the Russian empress Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great: "Deeds of the mind root out the evil". And it is no coincidence that CERN and JINR this year, as in the past year, were nominated together for Nobel Peace Prize. During the four decades of its existence, the Joint Institute has made a distinguished contribution to the investigation of the fundamental properties of the microcosm. JINR today is an internationally recognized scientific centre which incorporates fundamental research with the development and application of high technologies. The name of the Institute is written at the entrance to its administrative building in the languages of the 18 Member States. Germany, Italy, and Hungary participate as well in JINR's activities on the basis of bilateral agreements. The Joint Institute also takes an active part in international collaborations at many scientific centres throughout the world. JINR employs about 6,000 people, including over 1,000 scientists and about 2,000 engineers and technicians. Over 600 preprints and communications are published every year by members of the Institute. JINR publishes journals that are known world-wide, "Particles and Nuclei" and JINR Rapid Communications, as well as reports of JINR activities, the information bulletin JINR News, and proceedings of conferences, schools, and symposia organized by the Institute. The Institute comprises seven so-called Laboratories, each being comparable to a large institute in the scale and scope of the investigations performed. Our basic research facilities are accelerators and pulsed research reactors. Recently, a superconducting accelerator of relativistic nuclei, the Nuclotron, was put into operation at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics. As a modern scientific centre, JINR is equipped with powerful and fast computation means and is fully integrated into the world computer nets. The Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions has become famous as a world leader in producing the heaviest elements with its heavy ion machines U-400 and U-400M. ix

10 x Sophisticated methods and technologies of nuclear radiochemistry were developed there during several decades of intense work. The world scientific community has recognized the significant contributions of JINR to the discovery of several of the heaviest elements. As a result the element 105 has been named "Dubnium". You will have an opportunity to learn more details about the current status in this field of research when well-known scientists and experts of the Flerov Laboratory will introduce you to their work. Environmental and nuclear safety issues receive everyday attention. The monitoring of the environment is a permanent concern of the Radiological Service of our Institute. Complete nuclear material protection and control have been established at JINR according to international standards as a result of cooperative work with the US Department of Energy during the past two years. As I mentioned above, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research supports several educational activities. It has long standing connections with Moscow State University; a branch of the Nuclear Research Institute of that University is located in Dubna. The Dubna International University has recently been founded in Dubna; among the major topics of this University are environmental and ecological issues. And the University Center at JINR helps our scientists to share their rich experience with the young generation. So it was only natural that our Institute strongly supported the idea of holding a meeting like this one at Dubna. This ASI on Chemical Separation Technologies and Methods is in fact the first NATO sponsored meeting to be held here. I wish you very successful and enjoyable work. Our Institute will be ready to assist you with the means at our disposal to make this happen. Thank you for your attention. Boris F. Myasoedov President of the Joint Council on Radiochemistry of the Academy of Science and the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me to welcome you on behalf of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation, and the Joint Council on Radiochemistry of the Academy of Science and the Ministry of Atomic Energy. It is well recognized that atomic energy is one of the most promising sources of energy production. At the same time the development of nuclear industry is accompanied by the generation of increasing amounts of high level radioactive wastes. For example, in Russia, during the 50 years of operation of the nuclear facility "Mayak", radioactive wastes with an estimated activity of 10 9 Curies have been accumulated. An analogous situation took place in the US at the Hanford facility. Therefore, one of the most important issues of modern radiochemistry is the development of a reliable and ecologically safe long-term disposal of radioactive wastes and, in particular, of long-lived alpha-particle emitters. To achieve this goal there is a need in research and development of new effective separation methods and technologies for the treatment of radioactive waste and for new forms that are suitable for long-term burial of radioactive isotopes. Another important issue is the development of a completely new technology for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel which must comply with ecological safety demands and which must reduce greatly

11 Another important issue is the development of a completely new technology for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel which must comply with ecological safety demands and which must reduce greatly the amount of radioactive wastes. All these issues will be discussed in detail at this Advanced Study Institute in the lecturers given by well recognized, leading experts in the field. One of the nicest features of this Institute is that the audience consists of young radiochemists who represent 14 countries. It is this generation that will be responsible for the practical solution of the problems mentioned above. In conclusion, I would like wish this important and interesting Advanced Institute successful work, productive discussions, and building up of new cooperative research contacts. The nuclear waste problem can be solved successfully only within the framework of close international cooperation between interested countries and their scientists and engineers. xi Roy C. Herndon Director of the Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research Florida State University Dear Colleagues, I am very pleased with the opportunity to welcome you and to wish great success to this Advanced Study Institute on behalf of Florida State University and, in particular, on behalf of the staff of the Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research. The Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research conducts a wide range of research and related activities in the areas of environmental contamination and of hazardous waste management. The Institute emphasizes the transfer and exchange of environmental technologies through joint research and training projects, and it facilitates interaction and exchange of faculty and students from academic and research institutions throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The Institute has initiated a program of cooperative research with leading Russian Universities and research institutions on environmental issues including nuclear waste management. This program is administered under Cooperative Agreements. One such agreement is with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. A major goal of this Advanced Study Institute is to give the participants an opportunity to become involved in cooperative research projects and to share their rich scientific/technological experience with each other. International cooperation, sharing concepts and methods as well as technology transfer are essential in accelerating R&D in the clean-up of contaminated environment. I am glad to see among the ASI participants many young faces and a good balance between the participants from the East and the West. During the sessions of this institute possible cooperative projects in the field of chemical separation technologies may come up for discussions. My institute will be ready to help you in the realization of such projects. Let me close by wishing you again success in the work ahead of you.

12 xii -*t\ - ~Ir;; CHEMICAL SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES AND RELATED METHODS OF NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT: Applications~ Problems~ and Research Needs May 18-28, 1998 Dubna, Russia

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