№79-26

Justification of technical measures for the remediation of the radioactive waste tailing pond

L. Rudakov¹

¹Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, Dnipro, Ukraine

Coll.res.pap.nat.min.univ. 2024, 79:302–315

Full text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Purpose. To substantiate technical solutions for tailing pond remediation to reduce the volume of water saturation of radioactive waste. To minimize the infiltration processes of atmospheric water inflow, which lead to a decrease in the stability of the containment dams and enhance the processes of radionuclide migration into the environment.

Research methods. A number of field studies were conducted using GIS technologies to study the tailing pond surface topography. Calculations of the volume of earthworks for surface planning were performed according to well-known geodetic approaches by leveling the surface by squares. Methods of mathematical statistics were used to determine the estimated meteorological and hydrological characteristics, modules and volumes of rainfall runoff for the design of the drainage system.

Results of the study. The scope of earthworks for the reclamation and redevelopment of the tailing pond surface was determined. The maximum volumes of atmospheric water runoff and the design parameters of the drainage channels were determined.

Scientific novelty. The parameters of changes in the elements of the mesorelief of the tailing dump surface based on the hydrological features of the formation of surface runoff under the new design conditions of its operation are proposed. The new patterns of tailing dump surface formation will allow for further organised drainage of surface runoff without creating emergency situations. A variant of improving the impervious surface protection of the tailing dump, consisting of several consecutive layers of coating, is proposed.

Practical significance. Implementation of the design solutions will reduce the negative impact of the radioactive waste storage facility on the environment by reducing the rate of radionuclide migration to surface and groundwater. Increasing the stability and reliability of the soil containment dams.

Keywords: tailing pond, radioactive waste (RW), radiation safety, remediation, anti-filtration technical measures, surface runoff.

References

1. Ayoub, A. AT., Song, Y., & Sagiroun, M. IA. (2024). Radiological Hazard Assessment for human from Nuclear Power Plant effluent released under normal operation scenario (hypothetical case study). Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 216, 111380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2023.111380

2. Williams, D. J. (2021). Lessons from tailings dam failures—where to go fromhere? Minerals, 11(8), 853. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080853

3. World Information Service on Energy (2024). Chronology of major tailings dam failure. https://www.wise-uranium.org/mdaf.html

4. Lindborg, T., Thorne, M., Andersson, E., Becker, J., Brandefelt, J., Cabianca, T., Gunia, M., Ikonen, A. T. K., Johansson, E., Kangasniemi, V., Kautsky, U., Kirchner, G., Klos, R., Kowe, R., Kontula, A., Kupiainen, P., Lahdenperä, A.-M., Lord, N. S., Lunt, D. J., … Pröhl, G. (2018). Climate change and landscape development in post-closure safety assessment of Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal: Results of an initiative of the IAEA. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 183, 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.006

5. Williams, D. (2008). The influence of climate on seepage from mine waste storages during deposition and post-closure. Proceedings of the International Conference on Mine Closure. https://doi.org/10.36487/acg_repo/852_42

6. Labonté-Raymond, P.-L., Pabst, T., Bussière, B., & Bresson, É. (2020). Impact of climate change on extreme rainfall events and surface water management at Mine Waste Storage Facilities. Journal of Hydrology, 590, 125383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125383

7. IAEA(2006). Radiological conditions in the Dnieper River basin: Assessment by an international expert team and recommendations for an action plan. International Atomic Energy Agency. https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1230_web.pdf

8. Chetveryk, M., Bubnova, O., Babii, K., Shevchenko, O., & Moldabaev, S. (2018). Review of geomechanical problems of accumulation and reduction of mining industry wastes, and ways of their solution. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 12(4), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.15407/mining12.04.063

9. Rudakov, L. (2023). Environmental safety level assessment of radioactivewaste tailings storage facilities using checklists. Ecological Sciences, 2(47),107–111. https://doi.org/10.32846/2306-9716/2023.eco.2-47.17

10. Tymoshchuk, V., Tіshkov, V., & Soroka, Y. (2018). Hydro and geomechanіcal stabіlіty assessment of the bund wall bottom slope of the Dnіprovsk taіlіng dump. Mіnіng of Mіneral Deposіts, 12(1), 39–47. https://doі.org/10.15407/mіnіng12.01.039

11. Korovin, V. Yu., Valiaiev, O. M., Pohorielov, Yu. M., Shestak, Yu. G., Lavrova, T. V., & Haneklaus, N.(2021). Uranium sorption from radioactive waste of uranium ore processing at Pridneprovsk Chemical Plant. Geo-Technical Mechanics, 157, 212–222. https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2021.157.212

12. Yelatontsev, D. (2023). Utilization of phosphogypsum in phenol removal from coking wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 4, 100089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2023.100089

13. Pikarenia, D., Orlinska, O., Hapich, H., Rudakov, L., Chushkina, I., & Mazurenko, R. (2024). Utilization of phosphogypsum from industrial dumps as an element of environmentally safe energy- and resource-conserving technologies. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1348(1), 012053. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1348/1/012053

14. Tkachenko, Y. (2020). The Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant–Ukraine’s Uranium Heritage. Bellona Foundation. https://network.bellona.org/content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/Pridniprovsky-Chemical-plant-English.pdf

15. Hapich, H., Pikarenia, D., Orlinska, O., Kovalenko, V., Rudakov, L., Chushkina, I., Maksymova, N., Makarova, T., & Katsevych, V. (2022). Improving the system of technical diagnostics and environmentally safe operation of soil hydraulic structures on small rivers. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 2(10 (116)), 18–29. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2022.255167

16. Rudakov, D., Pikarenia, D., Orlinska, O., Rudakov, L., & Hapich, H. (2023). A predictive assessment of the uranium ore tailings impact on surface water contamination: Case study of the City of Kamianske, Ukraine. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 268–269, 107246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107246

17. Tymoshchuk, V., Rudakov, L., Pikarenia, D., Orlinska, O., & Hapich, H. (2023). Analyzing stability of protective structures as the elements of geotechnical tailing pond safety. Mining of Mineral Deposits, 17(4), 116–122. https://doi.org/10.33271/mining17.04.116

18. Dyrda, V., Lapin, V., Lysytsia, M., Puhach, A., Bulat, Ie., Pankevych, I., Ahaltsov, H., Slobodian, S., & Kalhankov, Ye. (2022). Some problems of the new radiation-resistant rubber mechanics in vibrating machines at hard γ-radiation. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., 970, 012017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/970/1/012017

19. Sawatsky, L. F., Cooper, D. L., McRoberts, E., & Ferguson, H. (1996). Strategies for reclamation of tailings impoundments. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 10(3), 131–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/09208119608964816

20. Cacciuttolo, C., Pastor, A., Valderrama, P., & Atencio, E. (2023). Process Water Management and seepage control in tailings storage facilities: Engineered Environmental Solutions applied in Chile and Peru. Water, 15(1), 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010196

21. Barrier State Enterprise (2024). Enterprise objects. https://web.archive.org/web/20140527140539/http://baryer.dp.ua/index.php/activity-of-enterprise/objects-enterprise/

22. Lytovchenko, O.F. (1999). Engineering hydrology and flow regulation. Higher school.

23. SNiP 2.01.14-83 Determination of calculated hydrological characteristics. (1983). https://online.budstandart.com/ua/catalog/document.html?id_doc=4260

24. Method of biological consolidation of the tailings surface (2024). (patent 156998 Ukraine: E21C41/00. № u202401031 ; applied on 27.02.2024 ; published on 28.08.2024, Bulletin no № 35/2024. 4 p.)

25. Method of tailings reclamation (2024). (patent 156999 Ukraine : E21C41/32 E21F15/00. №. u202401033 ; applied on 27.02.2024 ; published on 28.08.2024, Bulletin no. № 35/2024. 4 p.)

26. Method of tailings reclamation (2024). (patent 156936 Ukraine : E21C41/32 E21F15/00. №. u202401010 ; applied on 27.02.2024 ; published on 21.08.2024, Bulletin no. № 34/2024. 5 p.)