2016 Volume 20 Issue 1-2 Pages 91-100
After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the environment of northeastern Japan was contaminated by fallout containing radioactive cesium isotopes (r-Cs) from the plant, leading to contamination of municipal solid waste (MSW) as well. The contaminated MSW has been handled by various thermal treatment facilities. In order to understand r-Cs behavior during different thermal treatments of MSW, we reviewed earlier research reports on r-Cs concentration in solid residual materials discharged from the treatment plants, the distribution ratio of r-Cs between residue discharged from the bottom of furnaces (bottom ash, incombustibles, or slag) or dust in flue gas (fly ash), and r-Cs leaching rates from these residues. Furthermore, we compared the results with those of our recent investigation into incineration of waste from decontamination activities. In this paper, we present the results and discuss the effect of different types of waste on r-Cs behavior and leaching characteristics, using a thermodynamic equilibrium calculation approach.
