Reactions Affecting Strontium Removal from Radioactive Wastes

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1962 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-196307000-00003· OSTI ID:4647802

Tamura, Tsuneo; Struxness, E. G.

Alumina powder with an exchange capacity of about 1 meq/100 g removed as much strontium as a montmorillonite sample with 91 meq/100 g capacity when tested in a simulated waste solution of 0.1M NaNO³ containing 1.1 x 10^-5M Sr(NO₃)₂and in a basic pH. Additions of orthophosphate to the simulated waste solution resulted in improved strontium removal by CaCO³ powder. With 5000 ppm of orthophosphate, 0.5 g of CaCO³ removed over 99% of the strontium from 50 cm³ of simulated waste adjusted to pH 9. Under the same test conditions, natural vermiculite showed improvement, but sodium- saturated verraiculite showed a reduction in strontium removal. By pretreating verraiculite with solutions of NaCl and NaCl-- NaOH, the mineral's affinity for strontium was improved, and an increase from 35 to 55% removal was obtained using a 0.5 g sorbent/50 ml solution ratio. From the slurry tests four possible mechanisnrs for removing strontium from radioactive wastes are suggested. These are: ion exchange as an absorption process exemplified by vermiculite, clinoptilolite, and the clay minerals; ion exchange as an adsorption process characterized by alumina and possibly variscite; metasoniatic replacement as characterized by the CaCO₃-phosphate waste reaction; and precipitation reactions as evidenced by natural vermiculite in contact with phosphated waste.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-036999
• OSTI ID: 4647802
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 9; ISSN 0017-9078
• Publisher: Health Physics Society
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACIDITY
ALUMINUM OXIDES
ALUMINUM SILICATES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CLAYS
CLINOPTILOLITE
EFFICIENCY
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MONTMORILLONITE
PHOSPHATES
POWDERS
PRECIPITATION
REACTION KINETICS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SODIUM NITRATES
SOLUTIONS
STRONTIUM
STRONTIUM NITRATES
VERMICULITE
WASTE SOLUTIONS