Water Desalination & Treatment
applies ARBOK-VC technology to nuclear waste streams and contaminated liquids, separating radioactive particles and heavy isotopes from water or process liquids without thermal processing or chemical additives.
Technology brief
applies ARBOK-VC technology to nuclear waste streams and contaminated liquids, separating radioactive particles and heavy isotopes from water or process liquids without thermal processing or chemical additives.
The challenge
Primary use cases: decontamination of reactor coolant; processing of fuel pool water; treatment of contaminated groundwater at legacy nuclear sites; medical isotope facility wastewater.
Industries and users: nuclear power operators, fuel cycle facilities, weapons complex decommissioning, medical research institutions.
Scale: modular units 50–500 t/day; stackable for facility integration.
ARBOK solution
ARBOK-NUKE applies ARBOK-VC technology to nuclear waste streams and contaminated liquids, separating radioactive particles and heavy isotopes from water or process liquids without thermal processing or chemical additives. Operates at ambient temperature under deep vacuum; recovers clean, decontaminated water (drinking-grade quality) and concentrates radioactive material into minimal solid residue (typically <5% of input volume). Zero discharge; no secondary waste. Enables closed-loop water reuse in nuclear facilities and safe permanent storage of radioactive concentrates.
Radioactive wastewater enters vacuum chamber where water evaporates at ambient temperature while radioactive particles (uranium, plutonium, cesium-137, strontium-90, tritium, etc.) concentrate due to their higher boiling points. Water vapor condenses to potable grade; radioactive concentrate remains as compact solid residue. No membranes, no filters, no chemical solvents. Separation efficiency: 99.98 % for water recovery; isotope concentration into <5 % residual volume.
Market and application
Global nuclear fleet: ~440 reactors; each generates 1000–5000 m³/year contaminated water. Legacy decommissioning: 100+ sites globally with contaminated groundwater. Estimated addressable market: €5–10 B over 10 years (licensing, multiple deployments, service contracts).
CAPEX: €2–5M per unit (including shielding, remote controls, site integration). OPEX: electricity only (~€50k/year). Savings vs. chemical treatment: €500k–2M/year (avoided chemical costs, concentrate disposal, facility downtime). Payback: 3–5 years.
Use cases
Primary use cases: decontamination of reactor coolant; processing of fuel pool water; treatment of contaminated groundwater at legacy nuclear sites; medical isotope facility wastewater.
Industries and users: nuclear power operators, fuel cycle facilities, weapons complex decommissioning, medical research institutions.
Scale: modular units 50–500 t/day; stackable for facility integration.
Steps: wastewater characterization (isotope composition, volume) → unit sizing & shielding design → installation in facility (hot-cell or remote location) → remote operation via control center → periodic concentrate collection for final disposal. Continuous 24/7 operation with minimal intervention.
Retrofits to existing nuclear facility water treatment systems; integrates with hot-cell operations; compatible with remote-handling equipment; feeds into final disposal pathway for radioactive concentrates.
ARBOK-NUKE applies ARBOK-VC technology to nuclear waste streams and contaminated liquids, separating radioactive particles and heavy isotopes from water or process liquids without thermal processing or chemical additives. Operates at ambient temperature under deep vacuum; recovers clean, decontaminated water (drinking-grade quality) and concentrates radioactive material into minimal solid residue (typically <5% of input volume). Zero discharge; no secondary waste. Enables closed-loop water reuse in nuclear facilities and safe permanent storage of radioactive concentrates.
Primary use cases: decontamination of reactor coolant; processing of fuel pool water; treatment of contaminated groundwater at legacy nuclear sites; medical isotope facility wastewater.
Industries and users: nuclear power operators, fuel cycle facilities, weapons complex decommissioning, medical research institutions.
Scale: modular units 50–500 t/day; stackable for facility integration.
Radioactive wastewater enters vacuum chamber where water evaporates at ambient temperature while radioactive particles (uranium, plutonium, cesium-137, strontium-90, tritium, etc.) concentrate due to their higher boiling points. Water vapor condenses to potable grade; radioactive concentrate remains as compact solid residue. No membranes, no filters, no chemical solvents. Separation efficiency: 99.98 % for water recovery; isotope concentration into <5 % residual volume.
Input: any radioactive wastewater (coolant, fuel pool water, decontamination solutions, legacy groundwater).
Output water: potable-grade; < 1 Bq/L residual contamination (exceeds drinking water standards).
Output residue: 3–5 % of input volume; compact, stable, suitable for permanent disposal.
Energy: 2–3 kWh/t (minimal vs. chemical precipitation or ion exchange).
Processing rate: 50–500 t/day per unit.
Zero discharge: all water recycled; all radioactivity concentrated.
Vacuum evaporation chamber (radiation-shielded); condensation/water recovery system; radioactive concentrate collection module; remote monitoring & control (teleoperated from shielded control room). Modular, containerized for hot-cell integration or remote deployment.
Technical: no thermal damage to waste; no chemical additives; 99.98 % water recovery; ambient-temperature operation; inherently safe (passive separation by volatility).
Economic: minimal secondary waste (3–5 % concentrate vs. 20–40 % for precipitation); reduced long-term storage liability; water reuse cuts facility operating costs.
Environmental: zero liquid discharge; complies with strictest nuclear discharge regulations.
Strategic: reduces decommissioning costs; supports fuel cycle economics; applicable to legacy site remediation.
Retrofits to existing nuclear facility water treatment systems; integrates with hot-cell operations; compatible with remote-handling equipment; feeds into final disposal pathway for radioactive concentrates.
Steps: wastewater characterization (isotope composition, volume) → unit sizing & shielding design → installation in facility (hot-cell or remote location) → remote operation via control center → periodic concentrate collection for final disposal. Continuous 24/7 operation with minimal intervention.
TRL 5 — Validated in relevant environment. Lab tests and pilot-scale trials at nuclear research facilities completed; water recovery quality verified; radioactive separation efficacy confirmed. Ready for deployment in operational nuclear facilities with site-specific licensing and regulatory approval.
Global nuclear fleet: ~440 reactors; each generates 1000–5000 m³/year contaminated water. Legacy decommissioning: 100+ sites globally with contaminated groundwater. Estimated addressable market: €5–10 B over 10 years (licensing, multiple deployments, service contracts).
CAPEX: €2–5M per unit (including shielding, remote controls, site integration). OPEX: electricity only (~€50k/year). Savings vs. chemical treatment: €500k–2M/year (avoided chemical costs, concentrate disposal, facility downtime). Payback: 3–5 years.
Regulatory approval (nuclear licensing authorities); site-specific shielding design; long-term concentrate stability verification; operator training for remote operations. Requires partnership with established nuclear operators.
ARBOK-VC (Vacuum Cracking) · ARBOK-GALVANIX · Nuclear Waste Management Systems
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Partnership pathway