Selective separation of europium using polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Water Environment Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2175/106143097X125416· OSTI ID:466375

Norton, M V ^[1]; Digiano, F A ^[2]; Hallen, R T ^[3]

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1. Gray & Osborne, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
2. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
3. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)

The U.S. Department of energy (DOE) is actively pursuing new and improved separation techniques for the cleanup of past nuclear defense production sites. Research and production activites at DOE`s Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., have created large volumes of waste streams containing hazardous and toxic chemicals along with radioactive materials. Many of these wastes will require processing for segregation into high-level, transuranic, and/or low-level waste for permanent disposal. A process to selectively remove actinides, such as americium, from liquid radioactive waste was investigated for potential use at Hanford and other contaminated DOE sites. The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of polymer binding followed by ultrafiltration for removal of europium (Eu), a nonradioactive surrogate for trivalent actinides such as americium. A commercially available polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) synthesized copolymer were tested. Both polymers significantly increased Eu removal. A cation exchange mechanism was implied by examination of the Eu-to-RCO{sub 2}{sup -} functional groups that comprise the acrylic acid monomer. The weight ratios of Eu-to-polymer needed to achieve 85% rejection of Eu were 1:6 for PAA and 1:10 for the PNL copolymer. Addition of sodium to the feed solution at a concentration three orders of magnitude greater than Eu did not adversely affect rejection of Eu. 12 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 466375
• Journal Information: Water Environment Research, Journal Name: Water Environment Research Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 69; ISSN WAERED; ISSN 1061-4303
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
AMERICIUM
BINDING ENERGY
EUROPIUM
ION EXCHANGE
PH VALUE
POLYMERS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ULTRAFILTRATION