RECOVERY OF FISSION PRODUCT CESIUM FROM ACIDIC WASTES

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1959 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (U.S.) Formerly J. Ind. Eng. Chem. Superseded by Chem. Technol.

OSTI ID:4255539

Van Tuyl, H H; Moore, R L

Experiments in recovery of Cs from Purex-type processes by precipitation with zinc ferricyanide, zinc cobalticyanide, or nickel ferricyanide are reported. Also, addition of urea to the unconcentrated waste solutions as a nitrite suppressor to prevent oxidation when ferricyanides were used was investigated. It was found that either heating or addition of urea satisfactorily removed nitrite. All three precipitants were found to be usable; however zinc ferricyainide appears to be the best. At least 95% of the cesium can he recovered from concentrated wastes. (J.R.D.) l6006 Small quantities of Ba, Ca, and other insoluble sulfates can be converted to the chloride by heating them for 2 a 3 min in a crucible with a small quantity of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and sn excess of SOCl/sub 2/. When reaction products are evaporated off, the anhydrous chloride is obtained. SOCl/sub 2/ reacts quantitatively with chromium trioxide and dry dichromates to produce chromyl chloride. There is no reaction with chromates, hence the reagent provides a sensative test a distinguish between chromates and dichromates. An experiment at room temperature in which SOCl/sub 2/ was reacted with H/sub 2/O and D/sub 2/O/sub 3/ in open test tubes showed that the reaction with distilled water proceeded four times more rapidly than with heavy water. This difference is probably exaggerated by physical factors controlling the size of the interface between the two reacting liquids. An attempt was made to study the true reaction rate by using a solvent in which the water and SOCl/sub 2/ were soluble, but since SOCl/sub 2/ reacts with most lyphillic solvents, the results were inconsistent. It is noted that polyvinyl chloride and polythene are soluble in SOCl/sub 2/. (T.B.A.)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-016005
• OSTI ID: 4255539
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (U.S.) Formerly J. Ind. Eng. Chem. Superseded by Chem. Technol., Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (U.S.) Formerly J. Ind. Eng. Chem. Superseded by Chem. Technol. Vol. Vol: 51; ISSN IECHA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CESIUM
CHEMISTRY
COBALT COMPOUNDS
CYANIDES
FISSION PRODUCTS
IRON COMPOUNDS
MINERAL ACIDS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NITROUS ACID
PRECIPITATION
PUREX PROCESS
RECOVERY
UREA
WASTE SOLUTIONS
ZINC COMPOUNDS