The plasma technology: One way to improve the nuclear wastes processing

Abstract

High temperature processes represent a promising weight and volume reduction technique for hazardous wastes. In the case of the incineration-vitrification, the volume reduction can be very attractive because of the total destruction of the organics together with the immobilization of the hazardous elements such as radionuclides or heavy metals in a long-lasting matrix. Generally, the processes involved in such treatment are rather big because they require different parts in order to perform the combustion of the organic charge, the afterburning of the off gas, the vitrification of the residues, and the off gas treatment including cooling, filtration and scrubbing. The researches carried out at the CEA on new technology involved in the wastes processing have led to a proposal for implementation of plasma technology in order to make the processes more compact and then easier to run or handle in radioactive environment. The SHIVA process is a very interesting illustration of compact process. The IDHOL process involving inducted coupled plasma is another one in the case of the liquids treatment.