VKTA - Radiation Protection, Analysis & Disposal

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The VKTA - Radiation Protection, Analysis and Disposal Rossendorf e. V. (VKTA) (Association for Nuclear Process Engineering and Analytics Rossendorf eV until December 2014) is an institution commissioned by the Free State of Saxony to manage the research reactors and nuclear facilities of the former Central Institute for Nuclear Research (ZfK) of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR shut down, dismantle and properly dispose of the nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. In addition, the VKTA works on a number of other tasks in the field of environmental and radiation protection. It employs around 110 people with an annual budget of around 10 million euros.

The VKTA is located in the Dresden district of Rossendorf on the site of the research site of the same name. Like the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR) , the association, which was founded on January 1, 1992, emerged from the ZfK. There is close cooperation between VKTA and HZDR, particularly in the field of radiation protection.

Dismantling of the ZfK facilities

The aim of dismantling is usually to (re) establish a “ green field ”. In the course of the dismantling, the existing nuclear fuel will also be disposed of. For this purpose, they were collected in the facility for the disposal of nuclear material (EKR) separately from other radioactive waste and wastewater, prepared and stored since 2000 until they were transported to another interim or final storage facility. The dismantling of all ZfK facilities is expected to be completed in 2018.

The VKTA carries out dismantling-accompanying analyzes in its own laboratories to monitor the chemical and physical parameters.

The facilities to be dismantled on the site include or were:

Reactors :

Isotope production facilities :

  • Plant for radiation sources: Production stopped in 2000.
  • Fission molybdenum production facility (AMOR): Production stopped in 1990.
  • Radiopharmaceutical Laboratory: Production stopped in 2000.

The dismantling of the production facilities should be completed by 2010, but this could not be implemented due to a lack of financial resources.

Waste storage :

  • Interim storage facility for solid radioactive waste: Dismantling completed in 2001.
  • Interim storage facility for liquid radioactive waste (waste water): Dismantling completed in 2001.

Other tasks and services

State collection point

The VKTA operates the state collection point for the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. This represents an interim storage facility for radioactive waste. However, nuclear fuels are excluded.

Incorporation measuring point

For the Saxon Ministry of Environment and Agriculture (SMUL) there is a measuring device in the VKTA for incorporation measurements according to § 41 Radiation Protection Ordinance for the Free State of Saxony. This is also used to monitor employee exposure to radiation.

Facility for the treatment of low-level radioactive waste Rossendorf (ESR)

Since 2000 there has been a plant for the treatment of low-level radioactive waste with the aim of reducing the volume of waste or of preserving material that can be disposed of. In the case of liquid waste, an attempt is made to recover the solvent (usually water) free of harmful substances if possible and to obtain a much smaller amount of solid waste. Another possibility is to solidify the liquid by adding binding agents or by drying. Solid waste can also be processed. For example, bulky parts that arise during dismantling are shredded.

Analytics

The VKTA performs chemical and physical analyzes both as a service and for self-monitoring of the site and the dismantling. A variety of analytical methods are used. The focus is on radionuclide analysis . A service project since 1995 is the accompaniment of the rehabilitation of the former uranium mining pit of the Wismut GmbH in Königstein, Saxony .

Laboratory wastewater treatment plant

The VKTA operates the collection and purification systems for all laboratory wastewater for the entire site, including the Dresden-Rossendorf research center. If necessary, laboratory wastewater from radiation protection areas is sent to the ESR for treatment. The laboratory wastewater is thus monitored by the site itself.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Disposal of GDR research reactor is becoming more expensive . Hamburger Abendblatt . December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  2. ↑ 2014 Annual Report , accessed April 7, 2016
  3. ^ Annual report 2010 (PDF; 2.2 MB), accessed on August 29, 2011.

Coordinates: 51 ° 3 ′ 41.2 ″  N , 13 ° 57 ′ 8.7 ″  E