Pyrolysis Characterization of Simulated Radioactive Solid Waste: Pyrolysis Behavior, Kinetics, and Product Distribution

Zhigang Wei, Lulu Dong, Wei Wang, Pan Ding, Wenqian Jiang, Chi Zuo, Lei Li () and Minghui Tang ()
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Zhigang Wei: Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Changjiang 572700, China
Lulu Dong: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Wei Wang: Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Changjiang 572700, China
Pan Ding: Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Changjiang 572700, China
Wenqian Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Chi Zuo: Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Changjiang 572700, China
Lei Li: Southwestern Institute of Physics, Chengdu 610041, China
Minghui Tang: State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: The disposal of low-level and intermediate-level radioactive solid waste has aroused widespread concern. In this work, the pyrolysis characterizations of simulated radioactive solid waste, cotton gloves (CG), stain removal cloths (SRC), plastic bags (PB), shoe covers (SC), and ion exchange resins (IER), were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis, Thermogravimetric–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry–Mass Spectrometry (TG-FTIR-MS) and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The main mass loss stages of CG, SRC, PB, SC, and IER were 240–500 °C, 210–500 °C, 400–550 °C, 180–610 °C, and 25–700 °C, respectively. The average activation energies calculated by three iso-conversional methods were 184.09–211.46 kJ/mol, 172.33–180.85 kJ/mol, 264.63–268.01 kJ/mol, 150.49–184.36 kJ/mol, and 150.72–151.66 kJ/mol, respectively. Pyrolysis of CG and SRC mainly produced CO 2 and oxygenated compounds. SC generated large amounts of HCl during pyrolysis. Combined with rapid pyrolysis analysis, it was shown that CG and SRC mainly produced carbohydrates, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and aromatics. The pyrolysis products of SC mainly consisted of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatics, and acids. The pyrolysis products of PB were mainly olefins and alcohols. IER produced large amounts of aromatics during rapid pyrolysis. Specifically, the pyrolysis of IER generated some SO 2 . This work provides a theoretical basis and data support for the treatment of mixed combustible radioactive waste.

Keywords: pyrolysis; radioactive solid waste; TG-FTIR-MS; Py-GC/MS; pyrolysis kinetics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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