MAGNETIC BIOSORBENTS FOR CLOSED-CYCLE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM

THE TECHNOLOGY FOR CLEANING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED SURFACES NEEDS IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE IT MORE COST EFFECTIVE. AT PRESENT, THE COSTS FOR DECOMMISSIONING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, IN SOME CASES, EXCEED THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THIS RESEARCH INVESTIGATES A NEW, INEXPENSIVE PROCESS FOR CLEANING RADIOACTIVE SURFACES. THE PROPOSED APPROACH IS TO INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL OF USING MICROSCOPIC MAGNETIC BIOSORBENTS TO REMOVE RADIONUCLIDES FROM DECONTAMINATION STRIPPING SOLUTIONS. THE PHASE I EFFORT INVOLVES A SYSTEMATIC STUDY DIRECTED TOWARD DETERMINING THE OPTIMUM TYPE OF BIOSORBENT, AND THE CONDITIONS FOR PRODUCING THIS MATERIAL. SUCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM WILL LEAD TO AN INEXPENSIVE, RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR DECONTAMINATING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL ALSO FACILITATE THE LONG-TERM STORAGE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS.