VEOLIA NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS (VNS) | ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
decreasing overall lifetime costs. In some cases and regions, it also enables the processing of wastes that previously lacked a viable treatment route. The GeoMelt plant, for instance, processes sodium-
contaminated components under carefully controlled conditions. The flexibility of GeoMelt technology enables it to handle more than just pure sodium, making it suitable for treating materials from reactors and ancillary processes that are not fully decontaminated from radioactive material or reactive metals. This capability is relevant globally for operators facing similar decommissioning challenges. GeoMelt can process and stabilise waste in pipework and containers where removing heels or residues is particularly challenging. This leads to cost savings by reducing the need for waste segregation, shortening on-site time, or simply identifying a disposal route where none existed before.
A world-leading waste form A vitrified product has the potential to immobilise challenging radionuclides for the long term, creating a leading waste form. As more countries investigate near- surface disposal solutions for radioactive waste, thermal products offer a robust solution, allowing radionuclides to be contained regardless of the container holding the vitrified product.
The GeoMelt vitrified product immobilises radionuclides
for thousands of years due to its superior leach resistance nature. This robustness makes it suitable for landfill disposal in the US today. The diligence in pre-melt recipe production ensures that the product remains appropriate for environmental and disposal needs. There is also a wealth of knowledge available on glass
formulations. While near-surface disposal typically requires long-term encapsulation, some disposal routes have different requirements. Material scientists offer solutions to meet glass degradation performance against different time horizons or environmental conditions, encapsulating radionuclides for time periods ranging from tens and hundreds of years to the many thousand.
Batch is best Continuous operations are uncommon in the nuclear decommissioning sector. Delays can be for many technical,
commercial or location specific reasons. Thermal techniques face significant challenges when operations pause, such as managing the flow of vitrified material that can set and block plant valves or pipework, or struggle with non-homogenous wastes collected over decades. These scenarios demonstrate the benefits of batch processing. GeoMelt is specifically designed as a batch processing
technique, technically insensitive to the start and stop nature of decommissioning operations. For example, at Veolia’s GeoMelt Andrews plant, this approach allows waste processing to be undertaken in campaigns, with the product tailored to meet the compliance requirements of each campaign. This flexibility opens up possibilities for co- processing waste streams, leveraging the properties of one waste to process another more challenging waste. This co-processing is a key premise for an Asbestos
Innovation Partnership project currently under development in the UK, funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Conclusion Commercial operations that thermally process radioactive waste have significantly transformed the waste processing landscape. Veolia’s GeoMelt Andrews facility has validated the concept, establishing a foundation for waste owners to trust in the method and offering a processing route for some of the most difficult wastes, both radiologically and chemically.
The use of thermal techniques at various sites
effectively reduces risk profiles. When combined with diverse waste acceptance criteria for thermal treatment and a class leading product like GeoMelt, it bodes well for decommissioning and remediation efforts globally. However, challenges remain, such as integrating the technology into existing setups and enhancing melt efficiency. The technology is continuously evolving, and solutions to these challenges are developing. It is crucial to keep the discussion going. If you are interested in discovering whether thermal
treatment could benefit the waste you’re handling, please reach out to us at
nuclearsolutions.comm@
veolia.com. We’re dedicated to collaborating with waste owners to find the most effective and tailored solutions for their needs. ■
Above:
GeoMelt melter in the production facility
Dr. Gareth Peel Director of Waste Management Veolia Nuclear Solutions
www.nuclearsolutions.veolia.com
If you would like to contact VNS to discuss any of the topics within this article please email:
nuclearsolutions.comm@
veolia.com
www.neimagazine.com | July 2024 | 25
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