Page 362 - Radiation Safety

PROCEDURE OF RW MANAGEMENT

Step 3: Treatment of Radioactive Waste

The objective of radioactive waste treatment process is to reduce the volume, reduce or

eliminate potential hazards associated with the waste and to produce waste packages

suitable for destruction, storage or transportation to and disposal at a licensed repository.

Principle of treatment

1. Delay and Decay

❖ Applicable for wastes containing short-lived radionuclides. The wastes are stored for a
period of time to reduce its radioactivity levels to the suitable level for handling and

disposal.

2. Dilute and Disperse

❖ Applicable for liquid or gaseous wastes where the radioactivity can be reduced to

acceptable concentration by dilution in environment

3. Concentrate and Contain

❖ Implies reduction in volume of the waste and all the radioactive content is retained and

confined