Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Utilization of a mixed-bed column for the removal of iodine from radioactive process waste solutions

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Safety and appropriate management of nuclear waste are of major importance in radioisotope production. Radioiodine has been identified as one of the most dangerous radioelements in terms of radiological effects in case of accidental release; accordingly substantial efforts are made to optimize the iodine capture in liquid effluents to avoid any possible iodine gas release from liquid waste during storage. The IRE (National Institute for Radioelements) produces radioelements such as Mo-99 for nuclear medicine. Its production process results in highly acidic and oxidizing effluents containing iodine which might thus be present in various oxidation states and species. This needs to be taken into account for the development of a decontamination process for these effluents. CL Resin (TrisKem International) is an extraction chromatographic resin showing high selectivity for noble metals over a large number of other elements. The CL Resin retains silver over a wide pH range including high acid concentrations. It was further shown, after being loaded with silver, to strongly retain iodine species forming insoluble complexes with silver making it well suited for use in the given context; XAD-4 Resin (Sigma-Aldrich) on the other hand is known to retain elemental iodine. A mixed bed column based on silver loaded CL Resin and XAD-4 resin was developed and optimized for iodine removal from IRE’s process effluents. Prepared mixed bed columns were evaluated by treating multi-curies production process solutions at the IRE. These columns showed high iodine removal from elevated effluent volumes (>10 L) even at flow-rates up to >180 mL min−1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tolmacheva Yu A, Davydov AT (1960) The exchange of sulfate for chloride and iodide ions on the N-O anion exchanger under flow conditions. Rus J Phys Chem 34(6):602–604

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kodama H Dyer A, Hudson M J, Williams P A. (ed) (1993) Ion exchange processes: advanced and applications. Proceedings. ION-EX’93 (Wrexham (Wales), Apr. 4-7, 1993) Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge)

  3. Zhang Huifang, Gao Xiaolei, Guo Tan, Li Quan, Liu Haining, Ye Xiushen, Guo Min, Zhijian Wu (2011) Adsorption of iodide ions on a calcium alginate-silver composite adsorbent. Colloids Surf A 386:166–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hoskins JS, Karanfil T, Serkiz SM (2002) Removal and sequestration of Iodide using silver-impregnated activated carbon. Environ Sci Technol 36:784–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sanchez-Polo M, Rivera-Utrilla J, Salhi E, von Gunten U (2006) Removal of bromide and iodide anions from drinking water by silver-activated carbon aerogels. J Colloid Interface Sci 300:437–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wilkinson MV, Mondino AV, Manzini AC (2003) Separation of iodine produced from fission using silver-coated alumina. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 256(3):413–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Szczepaniak W, Koscielna H (2002) Specific adsorption of halogen anions on hydrous –γ Al2O3. Anal Chim Acta 470:263–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Karanfil T, Moro EC, Serkiz s M (2005) Development and testing of a silver chloride impregnated activated carbon for aqueous removal and sequestration of iodide. Environ Technol 26:1255–1262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Zulauf A, Happel S, Mokili MB, Bombard A, Jungclas H (2010) Characterization of an extraction chromatographic resin for the separation and determination of 36Cl and 129I. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 286(2):539–546

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Warwick PE, Zulauf A, Happel S, Croudace IW (2010) Determination of 36Cl in decommissioning samples using a Pyrolyser furnace and extraction chromatographic separations. Presented at the 11th ERA Symposium, 16.09.2010, Chester (UK)

  11. Salacz J (1985) Production of fission Mo-99, I-131, and Xe-133. The Mo-99 Programme of the National Institute for Radioelements—“I.R.E.,” Review IRE Tijdschrift 9(3):3–6

  12. CL Resin product sheet, version 17/12/10, TrisKem International (France)

  13. Bé M–M, Chisté V, Dulieu C. (2008) CEA/LNE-LNHB « NUCLEIDE-LARA Bibliotheque des emissions alpha, X et gamma » , CEA/Saclay, Octobre 2008 (http://www.nucleide.org/DDEP_WG/Nucleide-LARA_2008.pdf, accessed 13/12/12)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut des radioéléments (IRE), Fleurus, Belgium

    C. Decamp

  2. TrisKem International, Bruz, France

    S. Happel

Authors
  1. C. Decamp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Happel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Happel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Decamp, C., Happel, S. Utilization of a mixed-bed column for the removal of iodine from radioactive process waste solutions. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298, 763–767 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-013-2503-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-013-2503-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation