An Extreme Disposition Method for Low-Level Radioactive Wastes Using Supercritical Water(3)

Decontamination of low-level radioactive waste was effected in supercritical water with ruthenium dioxide as a catalyst and without addition of oxidizing materials. The distribution behavior of iron and cobalt attached to nonflammable organic materials from nuclear power plants, such as rubber gloves and fire-resistant sheeting, in the liquid, solid, and gaseous phases during treatment. Fe and Co were detected only in the solid phase when non-radioactive iron hydroxide was added as precipitant reagent prior to the supercritical water reaction.