Radiochemical studies on separation and removal of some radionuclides from radioactive wastes

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of radionuclides present in various liquid radioactive wastes were carried out using gamma-radiation spectroscopy method. Removal of Cs, Co, Eu and Zn by chemical precipitation process was studied using different phosphate species. Ion exchange was found to be the most common and effective treatment methods for liquid radioactive waste. In order to improve the removal efficiency of both cationic and anionic ion exchanger currently used in LRWTF, trials of some set series of experimental work were performed. Comparing the total removal percentage of radionuclides under study before and after complexation addition, it was observed that the addition of inorganic and organic complexants generally enhanced its removal efficiency. A novel impregnated ion exchanger namely P(AM-AA-AN)-DAM (Na+)/DtBB18C6 was prepared and their removal characteristics of some radionuclides from radioactive liquid waste was investigated. Preliminary batch experiments were performed in order to study some parameters, which influence the removal process such as, effect of ph of the medium, effects of contact time and temperature. some kinetic models were tested to analyze the experimental data and to predict the mechanism of sorption process while thermodynamic parameters were define the nature of the process. breakthrough data were determined in a fixed bed column at room temperature (298 K) under the effect of various bed height and flow rate.