REVERSE-OSMOSIS SEPARATION OF RADIOCONTAMINANTS FROM AMMONIUM DIURANATE EFFLUENTS

A reverse osmosis process has been found to be effective for the separ ation of radiocontaminants from ammonium diuranate effluents in a uran ium metal plant. Pilot-plant-scale experiments were conducted using ce llulosic membranes in a plate module system and actual plant effluents containing more than about 40,000. ppm of ammonium and nitrate specie s and having radiocontaminants corresponding to specific activities of about 10(-3) Ci/m3 beta/gamma emitters. The results indicated that mo re than 95% by volume of the treated effluents were within disposal li mits, while the remaining contained the concentrate, which can be trea ted for possible containment.