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Duratek Develops Process
to Remove Problem Radionuclide from Reactor Waste Streams |
 Duratek, in conjunction with the Vitreous State Laboratory of The Catholic University of America, has developed a patent-pending, ion exchange process using Durasil-125, which helps commercial nuclear utilities to meet increasingly stricter regulatory limits on the release of Antimony-125 (Sb-125). The process also reduces the amount of secondary waste generated, proving to be five times more effective than the existing Sb-125 removal process. After several months of lab testing using actual wastewater samples from a U.S. pressurized water reactor, the Sb-125 removal technique was taken from the lab directly to the nuclear power plant to continue with proof of process where it consistently met less than Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) requirements set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In October 2004, the Durasil-125 was installed in a full-scale Duratek liquid waste processing system known as the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS™). Duratek has been at the forefront in developing customized liquid waste treatment solutions for nuclear power plants, and has the ability, in conjunction with our various technology partners, to develop solutions for other emerging nuclear plant waste stream challenges. To this end, Duratek and its research partners are continuing to develop several other antimony-specific media, as well as solutions for the effective removal of Iron-55 (Fe-55). Duratek provides sophisticated membrane and ion exchange based water treatment technologies to 15 nuclear power plants. These technologies have successfully and safely processed more than one billion gallons of radioactive liquid waste to date. |
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