Feasibility study of 'in-house' resin for different nuclear waste effluent treatment - targeting 'zero uranium discharge'

Solid phase extraction processes involving a specially designed three dimensionally cross linked hydrophilic chelating polymeric resin, has been designed and developed in Desalination Division. The specific complexation between the extractant and metal ion (particularly uranium) provides good selectivity, extractability and indicates the possibility of selective removal/recovery of the valuable metal ions. As a specialty, resin can be regenerated and reused. In this regard, composite sorbent has been synthesized by polymerization of acrylamide with multivalent amide acrylate agent, followed by conversion by chemical reaction. The 'IN-HOUSE' chelate resin developed targeting recovery of uranium from low concentration aqueous solution such as sea water, mining/flooding/nuclear plant washed effluent and even effluents generated in nuclear plant, front-end as well as back-end. To study the performance and feasibility of the sorbent, experiments have been carried out with the following relevant effluents of nuclear industry: 1) The treated raffinate of UED, BARC plant effluent having uranium concentration of 30 ppm-5 ppm. 2) Tailing Pond Leachate and inlet of Effluent Treatment Plant of UCIL, Jadugudah, (carried out along with Environmental Assessment Division (EAD, BARC)) starting from 2 ppm to 60 ppb feed solution. 3) The recovery of valuables from seawater effluents of desalination plant (Desalination Division (DD), BARC) which contain about 3 ppb level of uranium from 5% total dissolved salts. (author)