Ionic Exchange Based Liquid Nuclear Waste Treatment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis By Type (Low-Level Waste, Intermediate-Level Waste, High-Level Waste), By Ionic Exchange Processing (Inorganic Natural Ion Exchangers, Organic Natural Ion Exchangers, Synthetic Inorganic Ion Exchangers), By Liquid Waste Source (Boiling Water Reactors, Gas-Cooled Reactors, Pressurized Water Reactors)And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The ion exchange-based liquid nuclear waste processing method is standard and efficient for processing radioactive liquid waste. It is a mature method that has been around for many years in nuclear and other industries. In addition, liquid radioactive waste is produced primarily during the cleaning and maintenance of reactor coolant and related systems that contain radioactivity.

Increasingly stringent regulations on the handling and storage of radioactive waste by major regulatory agencies, such as the World Nuclear Organization, are driving the market growth. The health hazards associated with the storage and disposal of nuclear waste support ion exchange-based liquid atomic waste treatment methods. The growing demand to balance fossil fuels with other power generation fuels is another critical factor driving growth. Due to the low cost, sustainable energy, the absence of greenhouse gas emissions, and the high thermal efficiency of nuclear power plants, the number of nuclear power plant installations continues to increase, providing additional support to the market.

• According to the World Nuclear Association, the total nuclear electricity generation in 2020 of the entire world was 2553 TWh, with the United States accounting for the highest 789.9 TWh.

However, the high amount of funds required for the construction of nuclear power plants and waste treatment facilities, the risk of accidents during natural disasters, and the growing popularity of solar and wind power to supplement fossil fuels for energy generation are some of the factors expected to limit growth to some extent over the forecast period.

• According to the Congressional Budget Office, almost USD 634 billion is the total estimated cost of nuclear forces in 2021-30, out of which the cost estimates by the U.S. Department of Energy is USD 229 billion. These estimates are over 25% higher than previous estimates from 2019.

North America is a developed market for liquid nuclear waste treatment based on ion exchange and is a mature market. In addition, several factors, such as the availability of nuclear technology, the growing market demand for clean and sustainable energy, and sufficient suppliers of atomic fuel, favor the growth of the market in the region.

• In May 2021, the United States Department of Energy announced USD 40 million to enhance nuclear waste treatment.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE IONIC EXCHANGE BASED LIQUID NUCLEAR WASTE TREATMENT MARKET

The ionic exchange-based liquid nuclear waste treatment market is expected to take some time before recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to drastic energy increase coupled to achieve sustainable development goals.

• In September 2021, China developed the first high-level radioactive liquid waste disposal equipment, which can melt waste into a glass and be used in the Sichuan Province. China is one of the limited countries in the world to have developed such a technique.

Although the energy sector is slowly gaining momentum due to easing COVID-19 restrictions, ionic exchange-based liquid nuclear waste treatment demand is anticipated to rise slowly due to the high costs associated with it and the low investment potential of many developing economies.

KEY INSIGHTS

The report will cover the following key insights:

• Recent Advancements in Ionic Exchange Based Liquid Nuclear Waste Treatment


• Key Industry Trends


• Regulatory Landscape for Ionic Exchange Based Liquid Nuclear Waste Treatment


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

ANALYSIS BY TYPE

According to the type of ion exchange processing, the ionic exchange-based liquid nuclear waste treatment market is divided into inorganic natural ion exchangers, organic natural ion exchangers, synthetic inorganic ion exchangers, synthetic organic ion exchangers, and modified natural ion exchangers. Inorganic natural ion exchangers will dominate the market. Inorganic ion exchange materials have become a vital replacement or complement to traditional organic ion exchange resins, especially in liquid radioactive waste treatment. Inorganic ion exchangers are essential because they have more excellent selectivity for certain radiologically important substances (such as cesium and strontium) than organic resins. Furthermore, inorganic ion exchangers can solve various waste management problems, which supports the market segment's growth.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

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North America and Europe are significant regions in the field. During the forecast period, the Middle East market has vast potential. In terms of market demand during the forecast period, Latin America and Africa are developing regions. The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period. Thus, it is expected to dominate the ion exchange-based liquid nuclear waste treatment market and significantly share the revenue. The increasing number of nuclear power plant installations in the region's developing economies supports the region's market value. Increased attention and active efforts to deal with rapidly growing waste further support the regional market's value. According to the World Nuclear Association, China's total nuclear electricity generation in 2020 was 344.7 TWh, with a uranium requirement in 2021 of about 9563 tonnes U.

KEY PLAYERS COVERED

The report will include profiles of key players such as Bechtel Corporation – Construction, Orano, Chase Environmental Incorporated, Ion Exchange India Ltd, SRCL, Fluor Corporation – Construction, Areva, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, Augean PLC, Graver Technologies, LLC, AVANTech, LLC, Waste Control Specialists, and EKSORB.

SEGMENTATION

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• EM and its liquid waste contractor at Savannah River Site (SRS) continue to advance the waste treatment demonstration project by installing new ion-exchange columns. In August 2021, Savannah River Remediation (SRR) installed four new ion exchange columns at the Tank Closure Cesium Removal (TCCR) process unit.


• In August 2021, Orano has signed contracts with several German energy companies to regulate the return of high-level liquid nuclear waste. The French Nuclear Power Group has signed agreements with EnBW, PreussenElektra, RWE, and Vattenfall. This contract describes and formalizes the pre-existing agreement between France and Germany.