Radiation effects on the removal of transuranics in solution by coated magnetic micro-particles

Magnetic micro-particles (1-25 μm) are coated with octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide, contacted and irradiated with solutions that simulate waste from the Hanford underground storage tanks, and evaluated for effectiveness in removing transuranics from these solutions. The robustness of the coatings and magnetic cores against radiation damage and hydrolysis degradation in acidic waste simulants is being investigated by irradiating samples (coated particles in simulated waste solution) with doses up to 6Mrad. Radiation doses are delivered with either a Co-60 γ-ray source or solutions spiked with Am-241 to deliver an alpha-radiation dose. The partition of transuranics between the particles and the waste solutions are measured before and after irradiation. Tunneling (transmission) electron microscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements are used to assess the physical damage to the particles caused by irradiation. Initial results indicate that the acidic concentrations of the waste solutions are more detrimental than radiation at low doses