Process Equipment for the Immobilisation of Ion-Exchange Resins
Hosokawa Micron offers two proven technologies for the safe immobilisation of ion-exchange resins in nuclear environments: vacuum drying prior to cementation and direct cementation of dewatered resins. Both methods are engineered to reduce waste volume, increase operational safety, and ensure long-term containment performance.
Whether you’re stabilising spent resins for final storage or looking to modernise an existing waste immobilisation line, our solutions support full process control under contained conditions. Designed for radioactive slurries and solids, our systems meet the highest standards in safety, compliance and efficiency—backed by decades of nuclear experience.
Drying of Resins Prior to Cementation
In this process, a water-resin slurry is collected and fed into a customised Nauta® vacuum dryer. Specially integrated filter elements near the base of the vessel facilitate moisture removal. When the vessel is full, vacuum and heat are applied to lower the moisture content from ~55% to approximately 4%. The product temperature reaches ~100°C.
The hot, dried resins are discharged into dedicated drums and compressed to reduce their volume by over 70%. These compressed drums are grouped inside a larger drum, filled with cement and sealed for permanent storage.
Cementation of Wet Resins
Alternatively, the resin slurry can be pre-dewatered using a filter press. The material is then mixed with cement inside a drum-type mixer. However, this approach requires rotor disposal after each cleaning campaign, adding significant cost.
To solve this, Hosokawa Micron developed a modified Flexomix high-impact mixer, eliminating the need for rotor replacement. This unit uses two inlets—one for the pressed resin and one for cement—and incorporates water addition, integrated drum pressing, radar level detection, and an internal camera for precision monitoring.
The stainless steel Flexomix ensures efficient, clog-free mixing with minimal maintenance.
Benefits of Both Methods
The method using the vacuum dryer significantly reduces the number of contained drums per campaign. The method using a Flexomix has the big advantage that rotor disposal is eliminated.
Evaluate the Right Equipment Setup
For complex or safety-critical applications, selecting the right process equipment requires careful evaluation of material behaviour, process conditions and system requirements. Our process specialists can support this assessment with technical expertise, equipment knowledge and, where suitable, testing or process validation options. This helps define a robust and reliable setup for your specific application.
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Need a safe and efficient solution for ion-exchange resin treatment? Our team will help you design a robust process tailored to your operational and safety requirements.
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Sustainable process technologies
Hosokawa Micron B.V. is committed to sustainable and responsible process technology. Our ISO 14001 certification covers key environmental aspects such as air, soil, energy, waste, water, noise and hazardous substances. With an EcoVadis Silver Medal, we rank among the top 3% of EcoVadis-rated companies in the special machinery industry.
