World Nuclear Exhibition 2021: Veolia awarded for its GeoMelt® solution for treating nuclear waste by vitrification
December 02, 2021 at 08:11 am EST
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GeoMelt® is stronger than concrete and more durable than granite or marble
GeoMelt® is a proven treatment method in the nuclear industry, with low life-cycle costs compared to other treatment methods for problematic (difficult to dispose of) waste. This thermal vitrification process transforms radioactive waste into a robust, stable material, stronger than concrete and more durable than granite or marble. It protects the environment against the risks associated with hazardous nuclear waste. The leaching resistance of GeoMelt® (which prevents the slow dissolution of solids in the presence of water) is among the highest of any material in the world. This extremely durable conditioning technology significantly reduces waste volumes compared to containment in cement.
GeoMelt® uses an electric current to melt and vitrify materials at temperatures between 1000° and 2000°C. This process allows different wastes, some of which are not readily vitrifiable, to be melted together by mixing them with other materials that are more easily vitrified. All molten materials are oxidised when trapped in the glass. This technology has already made it possible to treat 26,000 tonnes of hazardous and radioactive waste, in particular in the United States. GeoMelt® is part of a sustainable development approach by allowing waste used as reagents in the vitrification process (contaminated asbestos, etc.) to be recycled.
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Veolia Environnement SA published this content on 02 December 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 02 December 2021 13:10:05 UTC.
Veolia Environnement is the world leader in environmental management services. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- water-related services (40.6%; No. 1 worldwide): water resources management, drinking water distribution and delivery, wastewater collection, treatment and recovery, engineering, design, construction of water treatment facilities and customer relationship management, etc.;
- waste management services (32.4%; no. 1 worldwide): collection, treatment and recycling of liquid, solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste, waste treatment and recovery through composting, energy recovery from waste, etc. Veolia Environnement also provides urban waste management services (maintenance and cleaning of public spaces, provision of mechanized street cleaning and façade treatment services), maintenance of industrial sites, and dismantling of industrial facilities and equipment at the end of their useful life;
- energy services (27%; No. 1 in Europe): delegated management of urban heating and air conditioning networks, management of thermal and multi-technique services (operation of heating systems, facility design, construction, and maintenance, etc.) and industrial services (industrial process analysis, production equipment operation, service, and maintenance), general management of buildings and public lighting.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (21.5%), Europe (41.9%), North America (7.4%), Asia (5.6%), Africa and the Middle East (4.9%), Pacific (4.3%), Latin America (4%) and other (10.4%).