Composition of insoluble materials in highly active liquid waste at Tokai Reprocessing Plant

Kuno, Takehiko ; Nakamura, Yoshinobu; Okano, Masanori ; Sato, Soichi ; Watahiki, Masaru

The elemental composition and amount of insoluble materials in highly active liquid waste (HALW) were measured at the Tokai Reprocessing Plant. To evaluate the composition of the insoluble material between the treatment and storage processes, samples from the evaporator and two vessels which differ in the storage period, were taken. The concentration of insoluble material evaluated by both its weight on filter paper after filtration as well as by filtration volume showed no difference for three different samples. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and isotope dilution mass spectrometry were used to determine the elements in samples dissolved by sulfate fusion. Analytical data revealed that Zr and Mo were the main components of the insoluble material in three samples, but low levels of Rh, Ru and Pd were also present. These results suggest that most of insoluble material had re-precipitated from the HALW solution during the concentration process.