Process for the treatment of radioactive waste water

US5096624A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Noell, Inc. · DE

Inventors

• Aloys Dorr · Biblis, DE
• Uwe Kalberer · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Klaus Rose · Mundelsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 14, 1990
• Grant date: Mar 17, 1992
• Expiry date: Aug 14, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S203/06
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A process for the treatment of waste water containing boron compounds and radionuclides. The waste water is essentially vaporized until dry to yield a concentrate. Boric acid ester and an azeotropic mixture of water and alcohol are produced in a reaction by the addition of an excess of a long chain primary alcohol, e.g. butyl alcohol, to the concentrate. The azeotropic mixture, excess alcohol and boric acid ester are then separated from the concentrate by distilling. The non-radioactive components are then separated from the concentrate leaving behind a radioactive residue, which can be safely disposed of. The azeotropic mixture is then separated back into water and alcohol, and the boric acid ester is saponified back into boric acid and alcohol. The alcohol and boric acid are recycled back into the treatment process and to the nuclear reactor.