Patent ID: 6218592
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: C01D,G21F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for the treatment of a radioactive evaporator concentrate containing sodium sulfate from an evaporation system of a nuclear plant, comprising:(a) separating any undissolved components from the evaporator concentrate,(b) crystallizing the sodium sulfate contained in the evaporator concentrate as Glauber's salt (Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.10H.sub.2 O) by deposition on an immersion cooler,(c) dissolving and recrystallizing the Glauber's salt deposited on the immersion cooler,(d) optionally, at least once further dissolving and recrystallizing the Glauber's salt from step (c),(e) recovering essentially radioinactive Glauber's salt from recrystallization step (c) or (d), and(f) recycling the evaporator concentrate, depleted in sodium sulfate, to the evaporation system.