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Title: The use of 'exotic' framework structures in waste management

Journal Article · · Waste Management
;  [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Meston Building, Meston Walk, Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland (United Kingdom)

The use of porous framework materials in waste management applications has the potential to be a powerful tool in toxic metal remediation. The properties that these materials possess, including high surface area and ion-exchange capacity, are theoretically valuable. Furthermore, the flexibility of many of these frameworks allows the potential for immobilisation of waste materials with the framework of the material, in addition to the traditional capture in the pore structure. However, for either of these routes to be useful for waste management purposes, these structures must also be stable in any proposed storage media. This study examines the stability of a range of porous materials whose frameworks are made out of zinc and arsenic, both considered toxic minesite wastes, when exposed to aqueous media. The three frameworks examined (sodalite analogue Na{sub 6}(H{sub 2}O){sub 8}(ZnAsO{sub 4}){sub 6}, open framework K{sub 3}Zn{sub 4}O(AsO{sub 4}){sub 3} . 3.5H{sub 2}O, and an ABW type framework NH{sub 4}ZnAsO{sub 4}) all have similar hydrothermal synthetic routes and bulk framework compositions, but differ in counter ion used, pore size and complexity of structure. The phases were examined before and after storage in an aqueous environment, and their crystallinity and leaching were determined. All phases prepared were found to be extremely unstable outside their original synthetic environment, and very soluble when exposed to water, calling into question their practical use in any environment.

OSTI ID:
21023863
Journal Information:
Waste Management, Vol. 27, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2006.02.009; PII: S0956-053X(06)00069-9; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English