Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

The peer-reviewed scientific and technology journal. ISSN: 0204-3327

Integration of Regulatory Requirements and Scientific-Technical Principles in the Development of Treatment Systems for VVER NPP Trap Wastewater

12/10/2025 2025 - #04 Fuel cycle and nuclear waste management

Chugunov A.S. Vinnitskii V.A.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.4.06

UDC: 621.039.73

The article discusses the operational specifics of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the context of managing liquid radioactive media. It is emphasized that traditional technologies for handling and compact storage of such media, based on the principle of zero discharge of radioactive substances beyond the NPP site, are becoming technologically obsolete and economically inefficient under the new regulatory requirements (Federal Law No. 89-FZ «On Industrial and Consumer Waste» and Federal Law No. 190-FZ «On Radioactive Waste Management…»). The trial operation of a new trap water treatment system at Units 1 and 2 of NVAES-2 was analyzed, identifying the reasons for incomplete achievement of design performance indicators. A comprehensive scientific and technical justification for the application of ion-selective sorption is presented. The conditions for the formation of cationic, anionic, and neutral complexes involving ligands (OH–, oxalate, phosphate anions, etc.) are described, along with the influence of pH on the proportion of sorption- active forms of radionuclides (7Be, 60Co, 124,125Sb). As a promising approach, radionuclide sorting by half-life using membrane nanofiltration is proposed. This method retains large, low-mobility ions in the retentate – such as complexing agents, complexonates, and other complex forms of activated corrosion products, as well as possible polymeric forms of antimony–while allowing alkali metal and ammonium ions to pass into the permeate. In conclusion, the necessity of integrated consideration of both regulatory-legal and natural-scientific factors in the design of modern NPP trap water treatment systems is substantiated.

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 legal and normative regulation nuclear power plant effluents environmental protection trap waters liquid radioactive waste processing system

Link for citing the article: Chugunov A.S., Vinnitskii V.A. Integration of Regulatory Requirements and Scientific-Technical Principles in the Development of Treatment Systems for VVER NPP Trap Wastewater. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 4, pp. 80-95; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.4.06 (in Russian).

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