Decomposition of a cation exchange resin with hydrogen peroxide

Ion exchange resins are used in the field of nuclear industry. The present work aimed at the development of a method for complete decomposition of cation exchange resins with H2O2 in the presence of Fe3+ ion. The decomposition reaction proceed at ambient temperature and decomposition time was greatly shortened with increasing concentration of Fe3+ ion rather than that of H2O2. The catalytic action of Fe3+ ion was suppressed with increase of HNO3 concentration. As much as 4 g of the air-dried resin could be decomposed with 8 ml of 30% H2O2, and the use of about 60 ml of 30% H2O2 resulted in the complete decomposition of organic carbon to CO2. Absence of any organic carbon in the residual solution will simplify the final disposal. (author)