Selective Uptake of Palladium From High-Level Liquid Wastes by Hybrid Microcapsules Enclosed With Insoluble Ferrocyanides

Author(s):  
Hitoshi Mimura ◽  
Takashi Sakakibara ◽  
Wu Yan ◽  
Yuichi Niibori ◽  
Shin-ichi Koyama ◽  
...  

Fine crystalline powders of KCuFC were immobilized with alginate gel polymers by sol-gel methods. The uptake properties of KCuFC-microcapsules (KCuFC-MC) were examined by batch and column methods. The size of KCuFC-MC particle was estimated to be about 1 mm in diameter, and KCuFC powders were uniformly dispersed in KCuFC-MC particles. The uptake rate of Pd2+ for KCuFC-MC was attained within 3 d, and the uptake of Pd2+ was found to be independent of the temperature and coexisting HNO3 concentration. As for the breakthrough properties of Pd2+ through a column packed with KCuFC-MC, a breakpoint of 5% breakthrough was enhanced with lowering of flow rate and independent of coexisting HNO3 concentration. The Pd2+ ions were selectively adsorbed in the KCuFC crystal phase, while other metal ions such as Ru(NO)3+ and ZrO2+ were absorbed in the alginate phase. High uptake percentage of 98.6% was obtained by using the dissolved solutions of spent fuel from FBR-JOYO (119 GWd/t, JAEA). The alginate film enclosing KZnFC was further prepared by using the support of cellulose filter paper, where the Pd2+ ions were selectively adsorbed on the KZnFC-MC film. The alginate film enclosing insoluble ferrocyanides are predicted for the selective separation of Pd2+ as an ion-exchange filter. Thus, the microcapsules enclosing insoluble ferrocyanides are effective for the selective separation of Pd2+ from high-level liquid waste (HLLW).

1987 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Grambow ◽  
D. M. Strachan

The reprocessing of spent fuel from nuclear reactors and processing of fuels for defense purposes have generated large volumes of high-level liquid waste that need to be immobilized prior to final storage. For immobilization, the wastes must be converted to a less soluble solid, and, although other waste forms exist, glass currently appears to be the choice for the transuranic-containing portion of the reprocessed waste. Once produced, this glass will be sent in canisters to a geologic repository located some 200 to 500 m below the surface of the earth.


1989 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Igarashi ◽  
Takeshi Takahashi

ABSTRACTWaste forms have been developed and characterized at PNC (Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation)to immobilize high-level liquid waste generated from the reprocessing of nuclear spent fuel.Mechanical strength tests were excecuted on simulated solidified highlevel waste forms which were borosilicate glass and diopside glass-ceramic. Commercial glass was tested for comparison. Measured strengths were three-point bending strength,uniaxial compressive strength,impact strength by falling weight method,and Vickers hardness. Fracture toughness and fracture surface energy were also measured by both notch-beam and indentation technique.The results show that mechanical strengths of waste glass form are similar and that the glass ceramic form has the higher fracture toughness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 560-561 ◽  
pp. 637-643
Author(s):  
Yong Li ◽  
Xue Gang Liu ◽  
Jin Chen

The proper management of spent fuel arising from nuclear power production is a key issue for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. While conventional reprocessing process, PUREX process, was successful to recover uranium and plutonium, in recent years some countries have turned to focus on advanced reprocessing process, which features of partitioning of minor actinides (MA) and long-lived fission products(LLFP). Most advanced reprocessing processes under development involve new extractants and additional extraction cycles. In China, TRPO extraction process has been developed to partition MA/LLFP from high-level liquid waste(HLLW) since early 1980’s. In parallel to R&D work on separation technologies, studies on concentration & denitration process have been evolved to prepare feed solutions to suit qualifications of extraction. Industrially, concentration & denitration is the internationally recognized standard to treat HLLW released from PUREX before vitrification. It enables to minimize the volume of interim storage, to restrain the corrosion of storage tank, to recover nitric acid in HLLW and to reduce the required evaporation duty of the vitrification process. Generally, the constitution of concentrated HLLW has little impact on the following vitrification process. But when concentration & denitration acts as pretreatment process of partitioning, the composition of actinides, fission products, and nitric acid in concentrated HLLW solution plays significant role in extraction process. A series of technical issues relevant to the connection between concentration ﹠denitration and extractions should be solved. This paper describes current status of concentration & denitration technology utilized in industry and under reprocessing plants. The specific separation requirements in advanced reprocessing process and challenges to apply concentration & denitration process are addressed. Besides, concentration & denitration process was tested in laboratory to adjust feed solutions for TRPO and Cyanex301 partitioning. Results demonstrate its promising prospect in advanced reprocessing process.


Author(s):  
Hitoshi Mimura ◽  
Yan Wu ◽  
Yufei Wang ◽  
Yuichi Niibori ◽  
Isao Yamagishi ◽  
...  

A fine crystalline ammonium tungstophosphate (AWP) exchanger with high selectivity toward Cs+ was encapsulated in biopolymer matrices (calcium alginate, CaALG). The characterization of the AWP-CaALG microcapsule was examined using SEM/WDS, IR and DTA/TG analyses, and the selective separation and recovery of 137Cs were examined by the batch and column methods using simulated and real high-level liquid waste (HLLW). The free energy (ΔG0) of the ion exchange (NH4+ ↔ Cs+) for fine AWP crystals was determined at −13.2 kJ/mol, indicating the high selectivity of AWP towards Cs+. Spherical and elastic AWP-CaALG microcapsules (∼700 μm in diameter) were obtained and fine AWP crystals were uniformly immobilized in alginate matrices. Relatively large Kd values of Cs+ above 105 cm3/g were obtained in the presence of 10−3∼1 M Ca(NO3)2, resulting in a separation factor of Cs/Rb exceeding 102. The irradiated samples (60Co, 17.6 kGy) also exhibited large Kd values exceeding 105 cm3/g in the presence of 2.5 M HNO3. The Kd values in the presence of 0.1–9 M HNO3 for 67 elements were determined and the order of Kd value was Cs+ ≫ Rb+ > Ag+. The breakthrough curve of Cs+ had an S-shaped profile, and the breakpoint increased with decreasing flow rate; the breakpoint and breakthrough capacity at a flow rate of 0.35 cm3/min for the column (0.7 g AWP-CaALG) were estimated at 25.2 cm3 and 0.068 mmol/g, respectively. Good breakthrough and elution properties were retained even after thrice-repeated runs. The uptake (%) of Cs+ in simulated HLLW (28 metal components-1.92 M HNO3, SW-11, JAEA) was estimated at 97%, and the distribution of Cs+ and Zr/Ru into the AWP and alginate phases, respectively, were observed by WDS analysis. Further, the selective uptake of 137Cs exceeding 99% was confirmed by using real HLLW (FBR “JOYO”, JAEA). The AWP-CaALG microcapsules are thus effective for the selective separation and recovery of Cs+ from HLLWs.


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