Identification of Radwaste Oil Management Strategy

Objective:

To outline to the client a process to treat and manage the legacy radioactively contaminated waste oils stored on-site to facilitate disposal.

Added value to client:

A process to treat and manage the radioactively contaminated waste oils stored on-site was identified to senior management and a program to facilitate disposal of the oils was identified.

Activity:

The disposal of radioactively contaminated waste oils is problematical, and as a result, a legacy of oily waste had accumulated at the client’s sites. A waste oils inventory had been compiled to characterise the oil types (which included machine tool cutting fluids, hydraulic oils, lubricating oils and vacuum pump oils), their activity, sources and quantity.

The radwaste oil arisings were categorised based on radiological and chemical content. Viable radwaste oil treatment and management options were identified. Oil immobilisation trial results, past filtering experience, available manpower, disposal costs and the Drigg Conditions for Acceptance were each reviewed and evaluated. The possible locations of the treatment and management operations at the client’s sites, the corporate waste treatment program and the project risks of the operations (including radioactive material transfer and personnel training needs) were identified and appraised.

For each radwaste oil category RM Consultants Ltd (RMC) identified a treatment or management option. The options were presented together with a discussion of their associated benefits and limitations.