IMMOBILIZATION OF SPENT ION EXCHANGE RESIN ARISING FROM NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: AN INTRODUCTION

Ion exchange resins are used for purification of radioactive waste waters in the nuclear industry. The process involves removal of radioactive nuclides and other hazardous contaminants that could potentially harm the equipment or corrode reactor fuel rods. These resins have to be replaced periodically with clean ones to continue the purification process and dispose of the spent resins. Disposal often becomes uneconomic because of the large volume of the resin produced and the relatively few technologies capable of economically stabilizing this waste. Various methods to treat liquid radioactive waste in the reactor fuel pond using ion exchange resins have been reviewed in this paper. The potential of verification to immobilize and contain the spent ion exchange resin for long term disposal using novel borosilicate glass has been discussed.