Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.43, No.6, 1059-1064, 2020
Effect of Anti-Encrustation Additives on Zirconium Molybdate Hydrate
Anti-encrustation additives were mainly investigated in nitric acid solution with zirconium (Zr), molybdenum (Mo), and tellurium (Te) to prevent the encrustation of zirconium molybdate hydrate (ZMH). The ZMH generated by reaction crystallization of Mo and Zr as main fission products has a high adhesion property in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. In addition, it is reported that Te, which is also one of the fission products, precipitates together with ZMH. Encrustation of precipitates containing Te was effectively prevented by adding molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) crystals as an anti-encrustation reagent. The encrustation amount was found to be larger than that under the condition of only Zr and Mo without Te. Consequently, it was suggested that the high adhesion property of Te affected the encrustation amount of ZMH.
Keywords:Anti-encrustation additives;Molybdenum trioxide;Reaction crystallization;Zirconium molybdate hydrate