Abstract
Radioactive animal carcass waste combines high moisture, biological instability, and radiological hazard. As preliminary verification prior to radioactive application, an integrated drying–multi-stage incineration process was developed and evaluated using non-radioactive surrogate carcasses. Mouse and rat samples dried under a stepwise descending profile (130 → 120 → 110°C) reached moisture contents below the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) acceptance criterion of 40% within one day. Dried samples were incinerated in a nitrogen atmosphere. A single-ramp condition (≤800°C) gave incomplete combustion with tar and condensable organics, whereas a multi-stage ramp (200–1100°C) achieved complete combustion and a stable inorganic ash. Volume reduction reached 96.7–96.9% (mouse) and 95.5–95.7% (rat), exceeding the KORAD target of 90%. Ash analysis indicated near-complete organic decomposition (C: 1.04 mg kg−1; N, H, O: <0.05 mg kg−1), and regulated heavy metals were below detection limits in ash and off-gas capture solutions, suggesting limited environmental impact. Because hazardous-waste classification depends on leachable rather than total metals, TCLP testing and direct off-gas measurement remain future tasks. These results represent an important preliminary step toward, rather than direct validation of, treating actual radioactive carcass waste.