Separation Science and Technology, Vol.45, No.8, 1025-1032, 2010
Sizing an Ultrafiltration Process that Will Treat Radioactive Waste
A Department of Energy oversight review has shown that the performance of a waste treatment and immobilization plant at the Hanford Department of Energy facility depends on the performance of the ultrafiltration process utilized. In the present study, a theoretical model for permeate rates using a dead-end filtration theory was used into mass balance equations for the bulk phase concentrations of solids and sodium. Design curves were then generated that show the minimum membrane surface area necessary to treat a certain volume of radioactive slurry in a prescribed time, where the prescribed time could be dewatering time, wash time, or cycle time.
Keywords:cross-flow filtration;dead-end filtration;maximizing production and permeate rate study;radioactive waste