Removal of Actinides from Hanford Site Wastes Using an Extraction Chromatographic Resin

Economic incentives exist for partitioning both current and stored Hanford Site radioactive wastes into high-level waste, transuranic (TRU) waste, and low-level waste fractions. The present large volume of high-level and TRU wastes could be made much smaller by separating radionuclides from the inert (non-radioactive) components of the waste. Theoretically, the volume of high-level and TRU wastes could be reduced to only a few percent of the present volume. The remaining large volume of decontaminated, lowlevel waste could then be disposed of relatively inexpensively by mixing it with cement grout and disposing of the mixture in shallow, underground vaults. The smaller volume of high-level and TRU wastes could be disposed of by vitrification and transporting the vitrified waste to an underground waste repository. Recovery of some of the more valuable actinides in a relatively pure form for commercial use may also be an incentive for partitioning.