Title: Method for radionuclide contaminatecontaminant mitigation

Abstract

The method and system disclosed provides radionuclide contamination mitigation by applying an aqueous carrier solution comprising a cation to a surface bearing a radionuclide contaminant to cause the radionuclide contaminant to enter solution forming a laden solution, then contacting the laden solution with a sequestering agent to bind to the radionuclide contaminant to form a laden sequestering agent. The removal and sequestration of the radionuclide contaminant from the contaminated surface leads directly to a reduction in the amount of radiologically-impacted critical infrastructure and the environment. The method and system are able to be performed or utilized economically with materials quickly available in the event of a radiological dispersion event.

Inventors:

Kaminski, Michael D.; Mertz, Carol J.

Issue Date:

2019-02-05

Research Org.:

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1502363

Patent Number(s):

10199129

Application Number:

15/233,680

Assignee:

U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D11/0288 - {Applications, solvents}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

B01J20/12 - Naturally occurring clays or bleaching earth
B01J20/18 - Synthetic zeolitic molecular sieves
B01J39/02 - Processes using inorganic exchangers
B01J39/14 - Base exchange silicates, e.g. zeolites

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21F - PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT

G21F9/002 - {Decontamination of the surface of objects with chemical or electrochemical processes}
G21F9/16 - by fixation in stable solid media {
G21F9/162 - {in an inorganic matrix, e.g. clays, zeolites}

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC02-06CH11357

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 0016 Aug 10

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES