Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.38, No.4, 1683-1689, 1999
Flowsheet feasibility studies using ABEC resins for removal of pertechnetate from nuclear wastes
A flowsheet for the extraction and immobilization of (TcO4-)-Tc-99 from radioactive wastes has been developed. The three-stage flowsheet comprises selective sorption of (TcO4-)-Tc-99 by ABEC resins, secondary concentration of (TcO4-)-Tc-99 from H2O by a nonselective silica-based anion-exchange resin, and encapsulation and immobilization of the radionuclide-loaded anion-exchange resin in hydrous titanium oxide microspheres. Each process has been independently tested, and the results are discussed. The utility of this flowsheet in the extraction and immobilization of (TcO4-)-Tc-99 from alkaline radioactive wastes, neutralized nuclear fuel reprocessing streams, alkaline vitrification off-gas scrubber solutions, and solvent wash stages from the treatment of acidic high-level wastes is also presented.
Keywords:ANION-EXCHANGE RESIN;NITRIC-ACID;TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS;REPROCESSING SOLUTIONS;SORPTION BEHAVIOR;PHOSPHINE OXIDES;EXTRACTION;TECHNETIUM;TECHNOLOGIES;STRONTIUM