Success Stories

Proper management of radioactive waste, development of waste treatment
technologies, and ecologically safe disposal of radioactive wastes are important concerns
that are now being studied by a group of highly talented Uzbek and Ukrainian scientists.
The continued use of nuclear power and related technologies throughout the world
makes these issues a high global priority in the coming decades. Ukraine and Uzbekistan
rely extensively on nuclear technologies in industry, science and medicine; both countries
annually produce large amounts of solid and liquid radioactive wastes, and are therefore
very interested in developing and utilizing modern radioactive waste (RAW) systems.
Scientists from the Uzbekistan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics and Ukraine’s
Institute for Nuclear Research are collaborating with Los Alamos National Laboratory
in the United States to develop treatment and disposal technologies for radioactive
wastes. All of the techniques will follow the principles of radiation protection. There are
two approaches that will be developed to address these problems:
1. An efficient experimental technology for cementation of liquid radioactive waste
(LRAW) concentrates by the addition of a natural sorbent-natrolite--that will have high
characteristics for sorption and fixation of radionuclides; and,
2. A control model for storage of LRAW concentrates in the environment.
The degree of radionuclide inclusion into cement blocks is low, and the
leaching of radionuclides from blocks is considerable. Natural sorbents found in
Uzbekistan, particularly naturally occurring zeolite-natrolite, will be utilized as mixtures
in the cementing process. This will result in a strong increase of radionuclide fixation
and decrease the amount of leaching that takes place from cement blocks.
Improved technologies for cementation and safe disposal of the concentrated
LRAW will be a major outcome of the project.
Project results will be the development of new treatment and disposal methods
for large amounts of low and intermediate level radioactive waste materials. Such
methods will also maintain appropriate levels for environmental radiation protection. The project will have
significant connections to activities related to decommissioning power plants, in particular the Chernobyl
Nuclear Power Plant, as well as nuclear research installations where large quantities of low, intermediate,
and high level LRAW has accumulated. Project results will also be applied to ecological examinations for regulatory
authorities, particularly in connection with the licensing process for safety and environmental impact
assessments.