Process and apparatus for volume reduction of organic waste of low radioactivity

摘要

According to the invention, the low-level radioactive wastes such as fabrics, shoes, wood shavings, waste paper and plastic wastes produced in nuclear power stations, large clinics and the like are subjected to low-temperature carbonisation at 450-600 DEG C with exclusion of air and constant circulation. The radioactive substances remain in the solid low-temperature carbonisation residues and a reduction in volume to less than a tenth of the original solid volume occurs. The dust-free low-temperature carbonisation gases are cracked at approximately 1000-1200 DEG C. The mixed gas flows through a 1000-1200 DEG C reaction zone of a coke-containing fixed bed. The low residual fractions of active substances and heavy metal compounds are bound to the surfaces of the hot coke particles. The cracked gas produced is then cooled to below the condensation point and is scrubbed with the resulting condensate containing active carbon particles. The clean gas is burnt as a fuel for the low-temperature carbonisation of the wastes. <IMAGE>