The GeoMelt vitrification system installed at Perma-Fix Northwest in Richland, Wash., has wrapped up its initial demonstration melt of sodium-contaminated radioactive waste from the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Veolia Nuclear Services Federal Services, which owns the technology, in September received the INL contract to “demonstrate at full-scale” the system’s capabilities to process the reactive metals into an inert oxide form safe for disposal, according to a Perma-Fix press release Tuesday. Both companies then carried out the work.
The Idaho National Laboratory has since the 1980s held drums of waste from the Enrico Fermi nuclear power plant in Michigan, which were contaminated with low-level radioactively contaminated elemental sodium, the Atlanta-based environmental services company said. The first melt of 55 drums wrapped up on Dec. 20.
“I am pleased to report we successfully completed hot commissioning and an important demonstration project for the US Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory to treat sodium contaminated radioactive wastes,” Perma-Fix President and CEO Mark Duff said in the release. “Expanding our PFNW facility to accept and treat sodium contaminated radioactive wastes provides an outlet for these wastes that is not currently available. This successful demonstration marks an important milestone in our partnership with Veolia Nuclear Solutions and illustrates the unique nature of our facilities, permits and capabilities. Importantly, we continue to execute on our strategy to broaden our market base by treating complex waste streams through new technologies and partnerships within our industry.”
