Noble Gas Management: SBMOF 1 vs. NUCON Carbon

Technical Report · Fri Sep 16 04:00:00 EDT 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1889654· OSTI ID:1889654

Thallapally, Praveen K. ^[1]; Robinson, Alexander J. ^[1]; Zbib, Ali ^[1]; Riley, Brian J. ^[1]; Chong, Saehwa ^[1]; Liu, Jian ^[1]; Murphy, Mark K. ^[1]; Okabe, Parker ^[2]; Sherrod, Roman ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Flibe Energy, Huntsville, AL (United States)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), in collaboration with Flibe Energy, Inc., demonstrated the fabrication of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) into engineered beads to manage off-gases released from molten salt reactors. Among the many MOF options, SBMOF 1 was selected as an ideal sorbent to manage off-gases released from a molten salt reactor because its pore size is optimal. The SBMOF 1 was synthesized and fabricated into engineered particles using three different methods, with and without polymers. All the engineered particles were exposed to Co-60 radiation (1,000 kGy) to demonstrate their radiation stability. Single column breakthrough experiments were performed at different temperatures, activation conditions, flow rates, and off-gas compositions to optimize the Xe capacity at the breakthrough point and at saturation. The Xe loading in SBMOF 1 was compared with that of standard solid sorbent (Nucon carbon) under identical conditions. Based on the single column experiments, SBMOF 1 outperforms the Nucon carbon at all the temperatures and reduces the mass (to as little as 55%) of sorbent needed to achieve the same performance as carbon. The bed volume is also reduced, down to 48% of that of Nucon carbon, when the MOF is used. These results clearly demonstrate improvement in the amount of adsorbent needed and show a reduction in bed volume compared to traditional sorbent material.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1889654
• Report Number(s): PNNL-33314
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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