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Title: Trapping radiodine, in the form of methyl iodide, on nuclear carbon

Conference ·
OSTI ID:567689
 [1];  [2]
  1. Mahidol Univ., Bangkok (Thailand)
  2. John Moores Univ., Liverpool (United Kingdom)

Studies have been performed on potassium-iodide-impregnated charcoals of the type used in the nuclear industry for trapping radioiodine released during nuclear fission. The effects of various parameters on the trapping efficiency of methyl iodide have been investigated. A variation in particle size within a bulk charcoal caused poor precision in K value measurements because of differences in surface area, pore volume, and bed density, leading to differences in the deposition of the impregnant. Precision is improved by sieving the charcoal to a narrower size because smaller particles have a higher porosity. This finding is supported by surface area and pore measurements. Two methods of impregnation are compared by measuring K values and the deposition of potassium iodide. Charcoal impregnated by rotary evaporation exhibits both higher K values and higher potassium iodide contents than sprayed charcoal. Two designs of spraying drum are compared: a drum with helical vanes allows more efficient deposition and more uniform distribution of impregnant than a drum with axial vanes. A decrease in the K value with increasing humidity correlates with the available surface area. A similar correlation exists between water content and available pore volume. Aging of potassium-iodide-impregnated charcoal, caused by the formation of oxygen complexes on the surface, is associated with significant falls in K value. K values of charcoals also can be restored to at least their original values by heat treatment in the absence of air. 12 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
OSTI ID:
567689
Report Number(s):
CONF-9611157-; ON: DE97009015; TRN: 98:000722-0011
Resource Relation:
Conference: 1996 Pacific Basin conference on hazardous waste, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), 4-8 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]; Related Information: Is Part Of Pacific Basin conference on hazardous waste: Proceedings; PB: 706 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English