Chemical treatment of simulated solutions of medium-active-waste (MAW) concentrates from reprocessing plant

The present study deals with the problem of medium active waste-concentrate from reprocessing plant. Hexa cyano-cobaltate-III salts were used as a co precipitant for the removal of γ -emitters (cesium-137, antimony-125 and ruthenium-106) from simulated waste solution aiming at avoiding extra shielding of the final waste forms. Despite of the high salt content, (> 300 g/1) of the waste solution used, it was possible to obtain good percent removal specially for cesium-137 which is the main long-lived γ -emitter. Even in acid medium (2-4MHNO3), good percent removal for cesium (> 99.5%) was achieved. This is of the main advantages of hexacyanocobaltate-III salts used in the present study when compared with the commonly used hexacyanoferrate-salts. Keeping a nigh decontamination factor for cesium, it was possible to remove strontium (>99%) by improving the process of coprecipitation aiming at reducing the absorbed dose by the final waste-products.8 fig.,4 tab