Application of the Latest Design of Combined Adsorber-Settler Structure in the Purification (Deactivation) of Liquid Radioactive Wastes (LRW)

In the conditions of modern progressive pollution by liquid radioactive wastes (LRW), and the ineffective purification of LRW using existing water treatment technologies, it is crucial to investigate and substantiate the application for retaining specific pollutants, particularly heavy metal ions and radionuclides, using sorption materials. One of the parameters affecting the efficiency of sorbents is their sedimentation rate. The sorbent’s settling in the settlers occurs during the continuous movement of water at a low speed and uniform distribution throughout the volume of the purification structure from the inlet to the outlet. Experiments aimed at substantiating the constructive and technological parameters of a universal structure capable of working equally effectively with sorbents in different aggregate states. The process of sorbent sedimentation in water is characterized by the kinetics of sedimentation of sorbent flocculant conglomerates. These processes are reflected in the form of sedimentation kinetics graphs. The experiment used powdered bentonite and a solution of copper ferrocyanide, consisting of yellow blood salt and copper sulfate in a given ratio. A virtual full-scale spatial model of the illuminator-adsorber was used as the structure. During the research, the hydraulic size of bentonite powder clay was determined, the efficiency of different designs of the settler with ordinary and modernized thin-layer modules was established, and an increase in the sedimentation area was achieved. The use of virtual models of sedimentation of bentonite and zeolite powder clays and copper cyanoferrate allowed substantiating the optimal design of the illuminator-adsorber for stable and efficient sedimentation of the sorbent.