Independent technical paper. The summary below is provided for reference and search. Full bibliographic details are in the citation at the foot of this page.
01 Overview
The Process Waste Treatment Complex (PWTC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory removes low levels of radionuclides — primarily Cs-137 and Sr-90 — from aqueous process waste before discharge. A zeolite ion-exchange upgrade using natural chabazite encountered structural-integrity problems: although chabazite performs well for radionuclide removal in a test tube, it is a soft, highly friable zeolite that breaks down mechanically after as little as 3,000 bed volumes, causing poor flow distribution and excessive pressure drop. Six clinoptilolite media — including Fluid Tech's WTZ 100 — were identified as physically more durable and tested against actual PWTC wastewater.
02 Why this study matters
- Independent validation: a third-party (UCOR / Atkins) evaluation names WTZ 100 among the durable clinoptilolite media selected to solve the PWTC's zeolite problems.
- Durability matters: clinoptilolite is far more physically robust than chabazite, which loses integrity and sluices out in a silt-like consistency after only a few thousand bed volumes.
- Strong exchange performance: clinoptilolite-type zeolites reach close to 100% of equilibrium Cs-137 exchange and over 95% for Sr-90 within 72 hours of contact.
04 Citation
Jeansonne, J. (UCOR, LLC); Townson, P. (Atkins Nuclear Secured, LLC). Oak Ridge Process Waste Treatment Complex (PWTC) — Summary of Process Improvements and Testing of New Ion Exchange Media (Paper 22292). WM2022 Conference, Phoenix, AZ.