**3. Treatment methods**

Conventional remediation techniques e.g., chemical, thermal and physical treatment methods are too costly, and may end of causing more contamination to the environment. Internationally acclaimed phytoremediation has an over 300-year old history of wastewater discharges, but the concept of using plants for the remediation of heavy metals and other pollutants was first reported in 1983 [15]. The concentration of a target element governs the degree to the widespread phytoremediation. Phytoremediation might be best suited for positions with the levels of radionuclide pollution which are only slightly advanced than the cleanup board levels because the subsequent sum of time for cleaning becomes reasonable (<10 years) and as probable plant toxicity effects are avoided [16].

Once the action is finished, an inorganic deposit remains that must be disposed of carefully, this residue has no fiscal significance. There are five varieties for positioning hazardous waste:


**33**

*Phytoremediation of Hazardous Radioactive Wastes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88055*

for radioactive waste management which include:

iv.Tolerable impact on future groups, and

national boundaries.

• Deep geological sources.

• Sub-seabed disposal.

• Dispatching to the Sun.

and polychlorinated biphenyls) [20].

• Ocean dumping Seabed burial.

• Subductive waste disposal method.

i.Acquiring adequate level of human safety.

ii.Facility of a standard level of environment protection.

application.

assessments:

The hazardous waste disposed of on land, ~60% (underground injection wells),

Radioactive waste control involves reducing radioactive residues, manage wastepacking carefully, safe storage and disposal along with protect sites of radioactivity origin clean. Underprivileged practices may lead to future complications. Therefore, selection of sites where radioactivity is to be managed safely is equally important other than technical expertise and investment, to result in safe and ecologically sound results. IAEA is endorsing recognition of some basic tenets by all countries

iii.Although predicting (i) and (ii), guarantee of insignificant properties past

v.No unnecessary liability on future generations. There are other legal, control,

The following decisions have been declared stress staid studies and technical

generation, safety and management characteristics likewise.

• Transforming radioactive waste to non-radioactive stable waste.

**4. Radioactive waste uptake phytoremediation mechanisms**

Phytoremediation is well accepted in literature [17, 18], and favored due to its in-situ/ex-situ applicability. Further additional benefits comprise fairly easy to handle and apply, proficient extraction bioavailable shares of pollutants, adaptable to a range of organic and inorganic complexes and energy generation. While the use of plants as environmental rehabilitation agents has gained wide acceptability in multidisciplinary research fields. Bramley-Alves et al. [19] proposed that phytoremediation involves a multi-skill technique for example phyto-oxidation, volatilization, and microbial remediation to improve the efficacy of pollutants' control [19]. Furthermore, phytoremediation is favored to former chemical methods because it could be useful in locations contaminated by inorganic (e.g., heavy metals) contaminants and organic (e.g., pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),

~35% (surface impoundments), 5% in landfills, and <1% in waste piles/land

*Phytoremediation of Hazardous Radioactive Wastes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88055*

*Assessment and Management of Radioactive and Electronic Wastes*

chemical precipitation and incineration.

and special shielding, handling and storage.

**3. Treatment methods**

positioning hazardous waste:

disposal [13, 14]. Several safe and effective additional treatments are available, e.g.,

**Low level waste (LLW):** It covers limited amounts of long-lived radionuclides with a very wide variety of radioactive waste. Waste that does not need shielding for handling or transportation, and isolation ages of a few 100 years. LLW may be slightly contaminated with radiation; for example, paper, glassware, tools and clothing. A wide range of disposal and storage alternatives are available, from

**Intermediate level waste (ILW):** ILW (reactor components, chemical residues, used metal fuel cladding) contains long-lived radionuclides alpha (α) emitters and isolation blocks. It does not need facility of heat dissipation during storage and disposal. ILW requires special handling and shielding of radioactivity. This waste is destined for disposal in deep geological repositories (the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in USA). **High level waste (HLW):** HLW covers high intensities of radiations that produce major amounts of heat by radioactive degeneration. It demands the design of removal in very deep, even geological layers, typically several hundred meters below the surface. The two primary categories are: (1) used fuel rods from nuclear plants and (2) waste from reprocessing the fuel rods. The waste contains both short-lived and long-lived high radiation nucleotides (half-lives of many thousands of years) which comprises high concentrations of radioactivity and requires cooling

Conventional remediation techniques e.g., chemical, thermal and physical treatment methods are too costly, and may end of causing more contamination to the environment. Internationally acclaimed phytoremediation has an over 300-year old history of wastewater discharges, but the concept of using plants for the remediation of heavy metals and other pollutants was first reported in 1983 [15]. The concentration of a target element governs the degree to the widespread phytoremediation. Phytoremediation might be best suited for positions with the levels of radionuclide pollution which are only slightly advanced than the cleanup board levels because the subsequent sum of time for cleaning becomes reasonable

Once the action is finished, an inorganic deposit remains that must be disposed

1.Hazardous wastes are dumped by force and under pressure by underground instillation bores (steel- and concrete-encased channels under earth crust).

2.Surface impoundment (engineered or natural depressions) can be recycled to

3.Land-fills are discarding facilities where hazardous waste is located in, prop-

4.Land treatment is a disposal process in which natural microbes in the soil

5.Waste piles, non-flowing hazardous waste are used for provisional loading till

of carefully, this residue has no fiscal significance. There are five varieties for

treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste, in pits or diked spaces.

erly planned and lined landfills to prevent leakage.

it is moved to final removal and final disposal.

break down (immobilize) the hazardous constituents.

(<10 years) and as probable plant toxicity effects are avoided [16].

simple to complex engineered facilities, e.g., landfills or incineration.

**32**

The hazardous waste disposed of on land, ~60% (underground injection wells), ~35% (surface impoundments), 5% in landfills, and <1% in waste piles/land application.

Radioactive waste control involves reducing radioactive residues, manage wastepacking carefully, safe storage and disposal along with protect sites of radioactivity origin clean. Underprivileged practices may lead to future complications. Therefore, selection of sites where radioactivity is to be managed safely is equally important other than technical expertise and investment, to result in safe and ecologically sound results. IAEA is endorsing recognition of some basic tenets by all countries for radioactive waste management which include:


The following decisions have been declared stress staid studies and technical assessments:


### **4. Radioactive waste uptake phytoremediation mechanisms**

Phytoremediation is well accepted in literature [17, 18], and favored due to its in-situ/ex-situ applicability. Further additional benefits comprise fairly easy to handle and apply, proficient extraction bioavailable shares of pollutants, adaptable to a range of organic and inorganic complexes and energy generation. While the use of plants as environmental rehabilitation agents has gained wide acceptability in multidisciplinary research fields. Bramley-Alves et al. [19] proposed that phytoremediation involves a multi-skill technique for example phyto-oxidation, volatilization, and microbial remediation to improve the efficacy of pollutants' control [19]. Furthermore, phytoremediation is favored to former chemical methods because it could be useful in locations contaminated by inorganic (e.g., heavy metals) contaminants and organic (e.g., pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and polychlorinated biphenyls) [20].

Over the previous years, several methods have been used to deal with the radioactive waste from contaminated sites. Though, these methods are costly and inefficient in their concert. The chemical methods generate large volumes of sludge and increase the cost of maintenance. Thermal methods are technically difficult and adversely affect the valuable component of soil by degrading it [21]. Two major procedures that are conventionally used to remediate the radioactive contaminated sites are: [22].


Phytoremediation is a novel resolution that effectively and inexpensively extracts out the contaminants from the site and scrubs up the wasteland [23]. Phytoremediation makes use of green plants to clean up and treat radioactive contaminated sites for example soil, water and sediments. Plants have notable features that help them absorb contaminants into their systems with their endorsement capabilities such as translocation, bioaccumulation and contaminant degradation. Many plant species have been successful in efficiently accumulating the radionuclides in their stems and leaves and hence remediating the contaminated site [21]. This chapter evaluates some of the research that has been done on phytoremediation of radioactive metals and aims to discuss the potential of phytoremediation, highlight the general mechanisms of plant uptake, give a brief overview on radioactive metals (especially: Uranium-238, Thorium-232, Radium-226) uptake by plants, and report the advantages and limitations associated with this method.
