Distribution characteristics of radionuclides in high-temperature melt phase during melt decontamination of decommissioned metal waste

The purpose of this paper is to investigate radionuiclides under various melting conditions that influence their distribution behavior during contaminated metal waste melting. Radioisotopes Co-60, and Cs-137 were artificially used as the model contaminants. Most of the Co-60 remained in the ingot phase homogeneously and was barely present in the slag phase. The Cs-137 nuclides leave the melt caused by volatilization, and are essentially transferred to the slag and dust phase. They are then retained by filter systems. The captured Cs-137 in the slag phase is about 9% and 12% at a basicity of 0.82 and 1.42 respectively. The results of the demonstration test performed with a withdrawed steam generator from Young-Kwang Nuclear Power Plant shows that cobalt was distributed homogeneously on the ingot phase. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.