A method for stabilizing radioactive isotopes includes preparing a liquid solution and mixing the liquid solution with Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) powder to form a solid material. The method may further include crushing the solid material into particles and passing radioactive water through the solid material to remove radioactive isotopes from the radioactive water and stabilize the radioactive isotopes.

A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.

A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.

The invention relates to a method for encapsulating radioactive waste, the method comprising the following steps: mixing dry radioactive waste, water and a binder in a mixer (12) to form a mixture (122), transferring the mixture (122) from the mixer (12) to an encapsulating unit (20), the mixture (122) being in contact with a transfer surface (84) of a transfer member (22), producing a test sample comprising dry radioactive waste, water and a binder, and characterizing the adherence and/or flow of the test sample on the transfer surface (84).

The invention relates to a device (10) for inerting radioactive waste, comprising: a mixer (12) comprising a radioactive waste inlet (56), a conditioning unit able to house a container, a transfer member connecting the mixer and a container accommodated by the conditioning unit, a handling screw, the handling screw comprising: two ends, one end being connected to the radioactive waste inlet (56), a cradle elongated along an axis between the two ends and delimiting an inner volume, the inner volume of the cradle being able to accommodate matter toward the mixer (12), a transfer rotor, in particular a coreless screw, extending in the inner volume, and a motor able to rotate the transfer rotor.

The present invention provides a spent nuclear fuel assembly storage including a metal cask which stores a spent nuclear fuel assembly and a container body which stores the metal cask and has a substantially hexagonal tubular shape, and an assembly of the spent nuclear fuel assembly storage containers, and a method of assembling the spent nuclear fuel assembly storage container.

A method and plant for wet-route oxidation treatment of hazardous organic waste products, notably radioactive wastes, which may contain mineral fillers, the waste products being treated in a secure environment. The plant comprises a closed space, with a mechanism for bringing a volume of hazardous organic waste products containing mineral fillers, adding a given quantity of water mixed with a base to the predetermined volume in order to adjust the pH to a determined value so as to make a solution and/or a liquid suspension, with a pressure reactor and with mechanism for transferring the solution and/or liquid suspension into the pressure reactor, and a device for introducing an oxygen atmosphere into the pressure reactor and for pressurizing the atmosphere. A heating mechanism is provided for subjecting the contents of the pressure reactor to heat treatment at a temperature between 150 and 350 C. to complete the wet-route oxidation.

Treatment of a radioactive waste stream is provided by adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and/or potassium hydroxide (KOH) together with a rapidly dissolving form of silica, e.g., fumed silica or fly ash. Alternatively, the fumed silica can be first dissolved in a NaOH/KOH solution, which is then combined with the waste solution. Adding a binder that can be a mixture of metakaolin (Al.sub.2O.sub.3.2SiO.sub.2), ground blast furnace slag, fly ash, or other additives. Adding an enhancer that can be composed of a group of additives that are used to further enhance the immobilization of heavy metals and key radionuclides such as .sup.99Tc and .sup.129I. An additional step can involve simple mixing of the binder with the activator and enhancer, which can occur in the final waste form container, or in a mixing vessel prior to pumping into the final waste form container, depending on the particular application.

A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.

Open pit mine (OPM) structures are modified or built new for use in disposing of low-level radioactive/nuclear waste (LLW). A drainage system is added to the OPM to drain water, such as, but not limited to, rain water, out of a volume of the OPM and to a particular geologic zone located far below the OPM that is isolated away from the local water table. Cells are formed within the volume of the OPM that are configured to receive the LLW. Cells are added to the OPM from a bottom towards a top of the OPM. Void spaces around the LLW materials within the cells are filled in with a protective-medium to mitigate against radionuclide migration away from the LLW materials within the cells. The protective-medium may be a blend of carbon nanotubes and a foam cement slurry. The carbon nanotubes may be made from reacting ethylene with vermiculite.