Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Vitrification of cesium-laden organic ion-exchange resin in a stirred melter

Journal Article · · Nuclear Technology
OSTI ID:653480
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Clemson Univ., Anderson, SC (United States). Environmental Engineering and Science
  2. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Technology Center

Tests were conducted using a stirred-tank melter to vitrify nonradioactive, cesium-laden organic ion-exchange resin. This resin, which is highly effective in removing cesium from solution, was developed to replace the complex sodium tetraphenylborate precipitation process used at the Defense Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site to remove {sup 137}Cs from a wastewater solution. The glass produced had a Fe{sup 2+}/Fe{sup Total} ratio that was acceptable for high-level waste glass. No damage to the melter was observed. Lower-bound estimates of overall cesium retention in the glass range from 70.5 to 73.9%. Only 2.1 to 4.3% of the cesium was emitted from the melter. Because between 21.8 and 27.4% of the cesium was not recovered, the overall cesium retention may have been substantially higher.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
OSTI ID:
653480
Journal Information:
Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 123; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English