Programme: IDEI
Duration: May 2009 – December 2010
Contracting authority: CNCSIS – UEFISCSU Bucharest
Project Coordinator: Dr.eng. Gheorghe CRUTU
Project Manager: Dr.eng. Gheorghe CRUTU
Purpose of the project:
The aim of the project is to develop some ecological technologies of water treatment and decontamination of soils polluted with radioactive ions by biosolubilization.
The originality of the project consists in developing a predictive and control technology of the effects of environmental factors on the microbiota in waters and soils contaminated with radioactive ions using mathematical computations in order to assess the cost-effectiveness of applying these biotechnologies.
Innovative application technologies such as the use of a bioreactor at the pilot scale will also be developed in the biosorption process.
Project objectives:
- Documentary study of biotechnologies used for the remediation of the polluted environment with radioactive ions and the sampling of contaminated sites in the Banat area with a view to studying indigenous microbiota;
2.Determination of factors that lead to degradation of the contaminated sites and identification, characterization, selection, isolation from microbial systems for environmental detoxification;
3.Practical applications of microbial systems in proposed biotechnologies
- Laboratory experiments. Physical, chemical, microbiological analyzes of water and soils polluted with radionuclides and radioactive ions; Statistical data processing;
5.Experimentation of unconventional method technology in the pilot phase, based on the results obtained in the laboratory phase;
- Demonstrating the functionality, usability and efficiency of the biotechnology developed;
- Implementation of environmental management. Practical indicators and case studies (environmental programmes) regarding implementation of environmental management system;
- Large-scale dissemination of information obtained.
Partial results:
The main sources of waste with environmental impact are:
– effluents resulted in mining processes, containing radioactive elements above the maximum admissible level;
-sterile rocks resulted from the extraction;
– low radioactive ore containing uranium (0.01 – 0.05%) stored in mining sites;
– “queues” from the processing activity, disposed in the tailings ponds in Feldioara;
– metallic and wooden radioactive waste contaminated during ore mining and processing;
– mining works closed, where waste dumps were left;
– uranium ore powders and uranium concentrates powders taken by air streams from their handling or processing areas.
The management of industrial waste products consists of recovery (recycling), storage, disposal and incineration. The share of these options is on average approximately the same every year:
- disposal 81.0%
- capitalization 15.0%
- temporary storage 3.3%
- incineration of 0.7%.
Soil and water samples were collected from the Banat area, the Ciudanovita Perimeter and the Lisava perimeter, which include Dobrei Nord, Dobrei Sud and Natra ore bodies.