SmartDry in the Decontamination of Radioactive Waste in Portugal

Did you know that the presence of radioactive waste from mining is one of the greatest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges? SmartDry, a project incubated at The Venture Builder, provides insights into radioactive waste and how it addresses this issue.

The existence of radioactive waste cannot be ignored due to its longevity (half-life of isotopes), levels of radioactivity, leaching of elements, and the risks of contaminating aquifers, rivers, streams, and reservoirs. This waste can enter the food chain, and as it moves up each level, its concentration in tissues increases, along with its associated dangers.

In Portugal, there are several sites containing this type of radioactive waste originating from uranium mining carried out in the 20th century. Notable sites include:

• Urgeiriça Mine (Canas de Senhorim, Nelas);
• Quinta do Bispo Mine (Mangualde); and
• Barragem Velha Mine (Viseu).

All of these locations contain large amounts of radioactive waste from uranium mining. The main radioactive isotopes present in the waste from these mines include:

• Uranium (U-238 and U-235)
• Radium (Ra-226)
• Radon (Rn-222)
• Thorium (Th-230)
• Lead (Pb-210)
• Polonium (Po-210)

Associated Risks
These isotopes are particularly dangerous due to their emission of alpha radiation, which, while not penetrating deep into the skin, can cause severe damage if inhaled or ingested. Additionally, contamination of groundwater by these isotopes poses a significant environmental risk.

Although rehabilitation activities have been carried out at these mines, ongoing monitoring is still needed to ensure the safety of local communities and the environmental preservation of these areas. Monitoring is essential but not sufficient. It is necessary to remove all radioactive isotopes from the waste to ensure present and future safety.

The question is: how can this decontamination be achieved without placing a heavy burden on the government?

The SmartDry Solution
SmartDry uses a new reverse leaching technology that can remove all radioactive isotopes and other leachable metals from the waste. The isotopes, properly separated through hydrometallurgical processes, could be redirected to the nuclear and nuclear medicine industries. Other extracted metal oxides would be converted into pure metals and sold, generating additional revenue to help reduce decontamination costs.

The key differentiator of SmartDry’s reverse leaching technology lies in its use of smaller amounts of lixiviant (litres of chemical solution per kilogram of material) and its ability to carry out a series of operations in a single load of the equipment, including:

• Single extraction (with one leachant) or sequential extraction (when different metals require different chemical solutions);
• Washing to remove residual leachant;
• Decontamination of the material (in case the extraction process generates new contaminants, such as sulphides);
• pH neutralisation, so the material can be used for mine closure.

At the end of the reverse leaching process, the remaining solid material comes out dry and stackable, which can be directly compacted, ensuring reduced impact and greater safety in final disposal.Learn more about this project at: https://smartdry.ca/