PWR WASTE BORIC ACID RECLAMATION - A VOLUME REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY

A MAJOR SOURCE OF LIQUID RADWASTE IN A PWR IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANDLING, PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL OF BORIC ACID WHICH IS UTILIZED IN THE CONTROL OF A PWR. UPWARD OF HALF OF ALL WASTE GENERATED INVOLVE SOLIDIFICATION OF BORIC ACID EVAPORATOR CONCENTRATES (3000 55-GAL DRUM OF WASTE AT A LARGE PWR). THIS IS THE RESULT OF POOR WASTE SEGREGATION, POOR EVAPORATOR PERFORMANCE AND THE LACK OF A RELIABLE MEANS TO PRODUCE A REUSABLE GRADE OF BORIC ACID. PRESENT PRACTICES SUCH AS EVAPORATION AND SOLIDIFICATION FOR DISPOSAL, OR DEMINERALIZATION AND DISPOSAL OF THE RESIN AS WASTE, OR DEMINERALIZATION AND DISCHARGE OF BORIC ACID TO COOLING LAKES, ETC., ARE OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE. KLM TECHNOLOGIES' PERSONNEL HAVE IDENTIFIED A BORIC ACID RECLAMATION SYSTEM WHICH UTILIZES ULTRAFILTRATION (UF) AND REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) TO PRODUCE A RECYCLABLE GRADE OF BORIC ACID, THUS REDUCING WASTE BORIC ACID DISPOSAL. THIS SYSTEM, WHICH CAN BE READILY RETROFIT INTO EXISTING FACILITIES, PROVIDES POSITIVE VOLUME REDUCTION WITH MINIMAL MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A SYSTEM DESIGN INCLUDING NECESSARY TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSES WHICH WILL PROVE A VIABLE COMPACT VOLUME REDUCTION SYSTEM.