Radioactive Waste Management
Overview of Radioactive Waste Management at the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR)
During operation, the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR) generates operational radioactive waste as well as spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel is managed separately from operational radioactive waste and is stored safely in the reactor’s service (spent fuel) pool throughout the reactor’s operational lifetime, in accordance with approved safety and regulatory requirements.
Operational radioactive waste is collected from various reactor areas and activities and managed in accordance with approved procedures. It is temporarily stored in designated storage rooms within the reactor and services building until it is transferred to the Radioactive Waste Treatment Facility (RWTF).
Radioactive Waste Generated at JRTR
JRTR generates solid, liquid, and gaseous radioactive waste.
- Gaseous and liquid effluents are managed through engineered systems (including ventilation and treatment components) prior to controlled release, ensuring compliance with applicable environmental and regulatory limits.
- Typical waste streams include:
- Spent ion-exchange resins
- Wet filters
- HVAC and ventilation system filters
- Liquid waste collected in basins within the reactor and services buildings
Additional radioactive waste may arise from related facilities and activities, including:
- The radiopharmaceutical production facility (e.g., irradiated capsules and related materials)
- The Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) facility
- Maintenance activities, operational laboratories, and the radiation protection unit
Radioactive Waste Treatment Facility
The RWTF is designed to receive, treat, store, and manage liquid and solid radioactive waste generated by JRTR, as well as selected solid radioactive waste received from external sources (e.g., medical centers), in accordance with applicable regulations and facility acceptance criteria.
Waste treatment methods are selected based on the waste type, physical form, and radiological characteristics, and may include:
Cement solidification: for intermediate-level solid waste or concentrated liquid waste (e.g., from evaporation)
Liquid waste evaporation: to reduce the volume of radioactive liquids
Compaction: for compressible low-level solid waste to minimize volume
Cutting and dismantling: for large low-level waste items to fit into 200-liter drums
Decontamination: for tools and equipment to enable reuse or recycling where appropriate
Direct storage: for waste requiring interim storage prior to further processing or disposal
Waste disposal (clearance pathway): for materials with activity levels below applicable clearance levels, where permitted
Decay storage: for short-lived radionuclide waste, allowing decay prior to release, reuse, or disposal, as applicable
Decommissioning
The overall decommissioning principle for JRTR is to remove spent nuclear fuel from the facility and remove radioactive waste from the site, ensuring that any residual radioactivity in buildings, structures, and areas remains within acceptable limits.
A decommissioning plan has been prepared and is periodically updated in alignment with the national strategy for spent fuel and radioactive waste management. The final detailed decommissioning plan will be completed before the end of the reactor’s operational life.