The Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU), located east of INTEC, is a first-of-a-kind, 53,000-square-foot facility. Approximately, 265 workers are supporting efforts to treat approximately 900,000 gallons of liquid radioactive and hazardous waste, called sodium-bearing waste, that has been stored in underground storage tanks.
The waste was generated from operations at INTEC. The liquid is stored in three stainless steel 300,000-gallon storage tanks that are part of a tank farm of 15 tanks.
IWTU, located east of INTEC, uses a steam reforming technology to convert the liquid to a solid, granular material; packaging it in stainless steel canisters; and storing the containers in concrete vaults at the site. Any emissions generated during the treatment campaign are filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and Granulated Activated Charcoal filters and sampled to ensure regulatory requirements are met.
It is currently being used at a facility in Erwin, Tenn., to primarily treat radioactive resin wastes from commercial nuclear facilities.
Sodium-bearing waste treatment is expected to take three to seven years to complete.
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