Sierra Sanchez
Integrated Research Component
UNIV 112
What Makes an Effective Method and Who’s in Control
Nuclear accidents have happened all across the globe. The radioactive waste that results
from these nuclear spills must be cleaned up to prevent the environment from being substantially
harmed. It has been debated upon for years on how to clean up nuclear waste. There have been
many different opinions on what is considered “clean” at a nuclear site, and what nuclear waste
is (“Nuclear Waste Disposal” A24). According to Christian Streffer, PhD, professor of radiation
biology, and multiple awards winner, he explains that “A solution to the problem of long-term
radioactive waste management comprises a technical and social dimension, i.e. it must not only
be technically achievable but also publicly acceptable”(Streffer et al. 111). In his book Waste
Management Strategies and Disposal Design, he explores multiple strategies and techniques to
dispose of nuclear or radioactive waste. Although there are multiple methods to disposing of this
waste, some are deemed better and more practical than others. According to Vandenhove and
Hees, soil contamination has become a problem when spills of nuclear fuel occur. Methods that
are efficient but do not cost very much, are the recommended method of cleaning the spill (41).
It is important to consider
When nuclear spills occur, there must be an authority that is responsible for cleaning the
spill, and ensuring that the public is safe in the process. Lee, a director of the Centre for Nuclear
Engineering at Imperial College London, a William Penney Fellow, a member of the
Government Advisory Committee, and The Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board,
wrote the book Radioactive Waste Management and Contaminated Site Clean Up: Processes,
Technologies and International Experience. This book focuses on how to restore the
environment and recycle wastes when a radioactive spill occurs. He explains “Mechanisms for
managing controlled radioactive wastes are invariably under national government control with
legislative and regulatory systems in place to ensure safety and security.” (Lee, Ojovan and
Jantzen. 23). Also, according to the Washington Post, one of the most famous newspapers
published in Washington D.C, winner of 47 Pulitzer Prizes, and 18 Neiman Fellowships, it has
also been said that the government is in charge of disposal of this waste (“Nuclear Waste
Disposal” A24). It is up to certain authorities to create a plan they will keep everyone who is
involved, safe.
Chemical Processes
Not only must the government’s plan be safe and effective for the whole community,
they must also choose from multiple methods to go about cleaning the spill. One of these is a
chemical processing. Streffer tells us that “Processing means changing the physical, chemical,
and/or radiological characteristics of the waste in order to make it suitable for the next
management step (and perhaps already for further steps). The goal is to produce a waste package
suitable for handling, shipment, storage and/or disposal” (120). Some processing methods are
considered safer than others, and some are known to be more effective than others but according
to Lee “Three basic treatment objectives are: volume reduction, removal of radionuclides,
change of physical state, and chemical composition” (25). Chemical processing is a common
method used by the government, although it is not the most desirable one. According to
Vandenhove, a member of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, and specializing in the
Radiation Protection Department, and co-author M. Van Hees, also a member of the Belgian
Nuclear Research Centre, and specializing in the Radiation Protection Department, Soil washing
involves taking a biacarbonate wash and washing the uranium from the soil (41). Their published
experiment, “Phytoextraction for clean-up of low-level uranium contaminated soil evaluated”,
talks about the chemical process of removing uranium from soil after a nuclear spill. Although
this chemical process showed promise, it creates liquid wastes and tends to deteriorate the soil
(41).
Biological Process
Instead of chemically processing the radioactive waste, there have been methods known
to use a biological process. For example; Oh, a PhD in chemical engineering, and is a project
manager in the Nuclear Engineering Design and Research Department at the INEEL, says “The
bio contamination process is based on the use of naturally occurring microbes” (23). This
process focuses on more of the naturally occurring elements in life to expel of the nuclear waste.
It also does not generate liquid waste like the chemical processing does. Vandenhove and Hees
talk about a process called phytoextraction. They say it is “the use of plants to remove
contaminants from polluted soil, allows for in situ treatment, does not generate liquid wastes and
keeps soil properties intact” (43). As one can see these processes are healthier for the soil but are
not the most effective processes.
Mechanical Process and Storage
Chemical processing and mechanical processing are just two of the many methods the
government can use to dispose of radioactive waste. There is also a process known as mechanical
processing. This process involves doing things such as using ““Ultra-high pressure water is
forced through small diameter nozzles to generate high velocity waterjets. The waterjets
penetrate and remove surface contaminants” (Oh 7). This process does not involve any
chemicals. Oh also talks about the use of abrasive blasting. “Abrasive blasting is a simple
method that works by brushing or grinding a contaminant from the surface” (Oh 4). This is a
method that is also not as effective, but it is extremely simple to use. These methods of
mechanical process involve physically removing the nuclear waste.
Once the waste has been processed by one of these methods, it can be stored. According
to Streffer “Technical solutions for waste storage vary, dependent on the materials to be stored
and the purpose and anticipated duration of storage” (128). If the waste is going to be stored for
a long period of time it seems likely that it would be stored in a larger container in a more
securer location. Containers types vary according to Streffer. “The SNF needs to be packaged
into containers or casks suitable for disposal. Dependent on the disposal concept, requirements
for these containers vary”(Streffer et al. 139).
As one can see, disposing of nuclear waste is a very tricky situation. Many things go into
determining how and where the waste will be stored. It is mainly the government who oversees
the process, but it involves the whole community to corporate and get the job done.